8:07am Saturday 29th September 2007
The mother of a school girl, viciously beaten by a teenage mob in an unprovoked attack, has described a police decision merely to caution her attackers as "appalling."
Eleven-year-old Jade Brant spent three days in hospital after she was set upon as she walked along Otley Way, South Oxhey.
During the attack she was punched and kicked about the head and body by the gang who even used a chair to hit her across the back.
Her mother Victoria, of Brampton Road, said: "I couldn't believe it when I saw her. She came limping back to the house with a friend and her face was covered in blood. It was horrendous.
"When the police came I assumed they'd deal with them and that they would be properly punished - not let off with a warning."
Police arrested three teenagers after the attack and issued formal reprimands to a 16-year-old girl and a 14-year-old girl. Another boy, also 14, was bailed until next month.
A reprimand - formerly known as a caution - is issued when juvenile offenders admit to their first criminal offence and it is considered contrary to the public interest for the offender to be prosecuted.
On a second offence a warning can be issued. Only on a third offence is a criminal charge ususally considered.
This is known informally as the "three strikes and you're out" rule.
However, Mrs Brant says she is disgusted by the "meaningless" punishments.
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