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A 20-year-old woman was sentenced after a graphic attack on an underage teenager outside a Birkenhead nightclub.
As reported by the Liverpool Echo, Ellie Mason, of Arkle Road, Birkenhead, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today, where she was handed an 18-month community order for the assault outside The Beach nightclub in the early hours of December 27, 2024. The nightclub, which is also known as The Cool Room, operates as a two-in-one venue.
The court heard Mason, aged 19 when the attack occurred, recognised her victim, whom she was alleged to know since she was 14 years old. The underage teenager was standing outside the club after being refused entry for being underage. Mocking her victim, Mason began making vomiting noises towards the victim from inside the club and mocked her before exiting the venue between 2 am and 2:30 am.
The attack began after Mason left the club.
Caleb Suggit, prosecuting, told the court a verbal argument broke out as Mason aggressively approached the victim. She then kicked the teenager three times in the stomach, dragged her by the hair to the pavement, and pulled her hair so hard it came out at the roots.
Mason also punched her victim several times to the arms and back before kicking her in the stomach again. She later punched her several times in the face while shouting at her. The court also heard Mason threatened to smash the windows of her victim's home.
Holly Menary, defending, said Mason had been of previous good character. She told the court: "She was only 19 at the time of good character, a custodial sentence is not entirely necessary in this case for Ms Mason. Yes, the offending was horrible, but there is work she can do in the community that can punish her for what she has done."
Recorder Andrew Vinson told Mason: "It is safe to say this offending as described is horrible; it was an assault of various different aspects. This will have left your victim, no doubt, severely concerned, injured and effected. There can be no condoning this behaviour, and there can be no legitimate explanation for what you did."
The judge said Mason had two pieces of mitigation – her age at the time and her lack of maturity – and had shown a degree of remorse.
In the beginning, Mason had a harsher charge of racially aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm. However, she pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of occasioning actual bodily harm. The court heard no racist language was used during the assault.
Mason's family sat in the public gallery, as she was sentenced to an 18-month community order including 15 rehabilitation days and 130 hours of unpaid work. It is important to note that the hours of work were reduced by 70 hours, from 200 to 130. She was also given a five-year restraining order and ordered to pay a victim surcharge.
