Woman jailed over assault on teen outside school
A woman has been jailed for her involvement in an assault on a 15-year-old schoolgirl that was filmed and went viral.
Winnie Connors, 41, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for intentionally encouraging or assisting an offence.
The attack happened near Thomas Knyvett College, in Ashford, Surrey, on 6 February 2023.
The response of staff to the alleged racially aggravated assault led to criticism by MPs and a protest outside the school.
Connors, who was sentenced at Guildford Crown Court, pleaded guilty to the offence.
Two 16-year-old girls, who cannot be named for legal reasons, previously pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
During a hearing at Guildford Youth Court, one of the teenagers also pleaded guilty to assaulting a second teenage girl by beating.
The other girl pleaded not guilty to racially aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm and sending a threatening message to the victim on Snapchat two days before the assault.
Magistrates viewed video of the assault showing a black pupil being punched, kicked and having her hair pulled while her attackers were encouraged by adults.
The second defendant is alleged to have repeatedly used a racial slur towards the girl.
She denies that she was the one making the threats.
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