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Teen murderer ‘heard voices saying unkind things to her’ in Asda toilets days before Brianna Ghey attack

ByReport2

Oct 25, 2024

Teen murderer 'heard voices saying unkind things to her' in Asda toilets days before Brianna Ghey attack

Scarlett Jenkinson was moved to a different school after she "spiked" a 13-year-old with a cannabis edible sweet

Screen grab from bodyworn worn video issued by Cheshire Constabulary of the arrest of Scarlett Jenkinson
Screen grab from bodyworn worn video issued by Cheshire Constabulary of the arrest of Scarlett Jenkinson

A teenager who murdered Brianna Ghey was found days before the attack in the Asda toilets, where she reported "hearing voices saying unkind things". Scarlett Jenkinson, described as the "driving force" behind the murder, conspired with Eddie Ratcliffe to carry out the “exceptionally brutal” attack on 16-year-old transgender girl Brianna in February 2023.

After plotting the attack together over WhatsApp, where they created a “kill list” of possible targets, the pair, aged 15 at the time, lured Brianna to Culcheth Linear Park in Warrington before she was fatally stabbed 28 times. During the second day of an inquest into the death of Brianna, representatives of Culcheth High School and Birchwood Community High School were questioned by Cheshire's senior coroner Jacqueline Devonish regarding the months leading up to the murder.

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The court heard that during her earlier years at Culcheth High School Jenkinson's attendance was good and there were no concerning behavioural incidents. However, between 2020 and 2022 there were a number of incidents including a two day suspension for coming into school under the influence of alcohol, a day in the inclusion unit after making a racist comment to a student, an assault on another pupil and concerns about Jenkinson smelling of cannabis.

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READ MORE: Brianna Ghey inquest updates as evidence to be heard over teenager's murderREAD MORE: Teen murderer 'whistled' and 'sounded happy' after 'sadistic' attack on Brianna Ghey, inquest told

Following an incident where a 13-year-old girl was "spiked" with cannabis sweets by Jenkinson, a decision was made to offer her a managed transfer to another local school, said to be part of "an agreement in Warrington for year 11 students in particular because of exams", and she was transferred to the Birchwood High School where she met Brianna.

In an agreed document given to the press, it was said that whilst facts were shared between the schools, "the full details were not shared" initially, nor was the fact the police were called or that the victim was taken to A&E. The inquest also heard that Culcheth High School did not send a form to their Birchwood counterparts using the word "spiking" to confirm the nature of the incident.

However, representatives for Birchwood High School said "if all available details had been provided they likely would have still offered Scarlett Jenkinson a managed transfer". The court heard that after she was transferred to Birchwood High School, Jenkinson was accused again of having cannabis edibles in school.

On February 1 2023 Jenkinson was searched but nothing was found on her. The inquest heard the search was carried out because her "blazer pockets smelt strongly of cannabis". Later in February, just days before Brianna was murdered, Jenkinson was found in the Asda toilets, "really upset and said to be hearing voices".

Brianna Ghey was murdered in a park in Cheshire in February 2023
Brianna Ghey was murdered in a park in Cheshire in February 2023

The court heard Jenkinson said the voices were "saying unkind things to her" and told safeguarding leads that she had been "on the phone to Eddie" when in the toilets – the first occasion Birchwood High School had heard Ratcliffe mentioned. However, when questioned by Ms Devonish, the school's headteacher Emma Mills said: "She was quite a quiet, shy student. She was very polite, I would stop her in the corridor and she was always very polite, there was nothing out of the ordinary at all."

The court heard earlier from Suzy Saffery, the deputy designated safeguarding lead at Culcheth High School. She told the inquest she had known Ratcliffe and Jenkinson through her role at the school and said there were no concerns regarding the boy's behaviour or safeguarding.


READ MORE: Teen murderer 'whistled' and 'sounded happy' after 'sadistic' attack on Brianna Ghey, inquest told

She told the inquest that Jenkinson had a measly behaviour log and usually children at risk of a permanent exclusion would have "pages and pages of records". She said that in January 2020 Jenkinson had come into school smelling strongly of cannabis. Ms Laffery said: "There was no indication she had used it that day but the fact she smelt of it meant support was offered but declined by Scarlett and the family."

The court heard that because the claims were unsubstantiated and that she did not appear under the influence no further action was taken. Ms Mills, from Birchwood High School, told the court that when her safeguarding leads questioned the incident during the transfer it was "explained by the parents as having an elderly dog that had cancer and was being treated with cannabis".

In January 2022 the court heard Jenkinson and a friend had taken alcohol from the friend's house and come into school under the influence. Ms Saffery said the sanction of two days' suspension "was appropriate". Again the court heard that help was offered but "the family didn't engage".

Ms Saffery said: "Scarlett accessed pastoral support quite frequently and she did attend meetings with the school nurse. She had contact from the mental health support team. There was a history of non-engagement, she liked the internal support in school but was reluctant to work with agencies."

In May of the same year it was reported Jenkinson had logged into another child's Snapchat account and shared a picture. Ms Saffery said: “Some of the boys in the year group had reported there was a picture of another girl going around. She reported that Scarlett had logged into her account. It’s quite tricky to manage as the photograph had come from her account.

“She was adamant it was Scarlett and there was no evidence to substantiate she had. Our focus was on the other girl at the time because the images were from her phone.” The court hears there was no sanction because Jenkinson denied it. Martin Cushing, the school's assistant headteacher, said the most serious incident occurred in September of the same year, when Jenkinson had given another student a cannabis edible sweet. The student fell ill and was taken to A&E.

Mr Cushing told the court: "Suzie (Saffery) said a student had consumed an illicit substance – we thought it was cannabis edibles but confirmed she was feeling unwell. She was given it by Scarlett whilst in the library. In the library there was a group of them including Scarlett allegedly encouraging students to try the students, student A had half of one and shared it with Scarlett. She then had another half of one which was a different flavour."

In this handout photo from Cheshire Police, the mugshot of Scarlett Jenkinson, who was convicted last year in the killing of Brianna Ghey and sentenced and named on February 02, 2024 in Manchester
In this handout photo from Cheshire Police, the mugshot of Scarlett Jenkinson, who was convicted last year in the killing of Brianna Ghey and sentenced and named on February 2 2024 in Manchester

The court heard Jenkinson admitted the sweets had cannabis in them and that she had brought them into school. However, Mr Cushing said she denied that she had given them to Student A. Ms Devonish asked the senior teacher if it was true that Jenkinson was "laughing" when Student A took the sweets but he said he could not confirm.

Although the police were called, no further action was taken against Jenkinson. It was after this that the decision was made to seek a management transfer to another local school. The court heard a number of schools said they would take Jenkinson but it was decided Birchwood High School would be the most appropriate due to its proximity to Jenkinson's home.

Mr Cushing said it was "conducted the same as any other managed transfer" and Jenkinson and her mum met with Ms Mills at the end of October. Ms Mills told the court that she told Jenkinson that she "was under greater scrutiny" and she "was lucky to be offered this opportunity".

The court heard because of differences in timetables offered at the two schools Jenkinson spent two hours a week in the "exclusion room" where she did additional work in English and maths. The court heard she was in the classroom with Brianna on five occasions, and the two also spoke together in the "buddy room" – a classroom designated for children "who feel anxious about being out in the general crowds over breaks and lunch".

READ MORE: Brianna Ghey's teenage years 'immersed in darkness' inquest told

Ms Mills said it was seen as a positive thing that Jenkinson and Brianna chatted on occasions in the buddy room. She added: "I do know now they were communicating outside of school but we were not aware of that at the time." When asked if the decision making of Jenkinson's managed transfer was a success, Ms Mills said: "I can’t see in any way if we knew the other information how things would have changed because we already had a lot of support in place."

The headteacher added: "There was no information that we held that gave us any concern that she would be a risk to other students." However, in February 2023 it appeared the managed transfer had failed. As well as a number of attendance issues, the school contacted Jenkinson's parents, "who were difficult to get hold of," due to concerns about her mental health.

Eddie Ratcliffe murdered Brianna Ghey with accomplice Scarlett Jenkinson
Eddie Ratcliffe murdered Brianna Ghey with accomplice Scarlett Jenkinson

The court heard this was when she was found in the Asda toilets. On February 10 Amanda Crompton, pastoral manager at Birchwood High School, emailed the staff at Culcheth High School that they had not been able to arrange a meeting with Jenkinson's parents. The decision was made that a meeting between the school's senior leadership on February 13 would discuss a failed management transfer.

Jenkinson and Ratcliffe murdered Brianna on February 11. The court heard that when Jenkinson carried out the attack she was "dual-registered" between the schools, however, when it was confirmed the managed transfer had failed on February 14 – the day after her arrest – she was then just registered to Culcheth High School.

Jenkinson was sentenced to a minimum of 22 years' imprisonment while Ratcliffe will remain in prison for at least 20 years. They can only be identified because of a successful appeal by the press during their sentencing in February this year.

The inquest, which is due to hear evidence tomorrow, from representatives of Wigan and Warrington Council, continues.

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