A woman who “gloated” after stabbing a transgender girl in a brutal revenge attack has been sentenced to youth detention, as her mother shockingly defended her actions.
On February 10, 2023, an 18-year-old transgender girl was lured to a roller disco in Harrow, northwest London, where she was attacked by five youths. She was stabbed nine times, punched, kicked, and stamped on while transphobic slurs were shouted at her.
The group responsible for the assault has now been sentenced. Summer Betts-Ramsey, 20, who carried out the stabbing, received an eight-and-a-half-year sentence in youth detention, with four-and-a-half years to be served in custody. After the attack, Betts-Ramsey shared the footage with laughing emojis and reportedly told friends, “I’m going jail… bro I stabbed her 12 times.”
When confronted with a message that read, “Stabbing a girl cus she’s trans… it’s disgusting,” Betts-Ramsey replied, “IT deserved it.” Judge Philip Katz KC condemned the “abhorrent” assault, noting that it was motivated by a “distorted notion of revenge” and influenced by the victim’s gender identity.
He labeled Betts-Ramsey a “dangerous offender” who poses a public risk, saying, “Her gloating in the aftermath of the attack was shamelessly hateful and dehumanizing.” Betts-Ramsey had a prior criminal record, including robbery and battery, and was under a community order at the time of the attack.
In court, her defense lawyer cited a troubled upbringing marked by domestic violence and childhood abuse, adding that she had been in and out of care since she was seven. Her mother, Linda, defended her, claiming, “She’s not a ringleader. You don’t know the whole truth.”
She also stated, “What has come out in court looks bad, but there are two sides to every story.” Others involved in the attack were sentenced to youth detention or rehabilitation orders. The judge described the assault as “vicious,” highlighting that the victim was left with severe physical and emotional scars, she told the Mail.
“This was a sickening attack,” Judge Katz said. “She was punched to the ground and repeatedly kicked and stamped on. Rather than help, all of those involved ran off.”
The case has drawn attention to the rise of transphobic violence, with activists calling for stronger protections for transgender individuals and harsher penalties for hate crimes. The victim continues to recover from the trauma caused by this heinous act.
