RESIDENTS of a Scottish town are scared to leave their homes thanks to a gang of violent teenagers – but one mum is determined to put an end to it.
Sharon Bavaird’s 16-year-old daughter Tanith was attacked – including having her hair set on fire – outside a youth club in East Kilbride last summer.
11
11
11
11
The desperate mum reported the incident to police but since then says she’s had a “target” on her back, with the dozen-strong group even turning up at her workplace.
Since the attack on June 24 2023, Sharon, 48, has set up a private Facebook group – EK Victims of Teen Violence, which currently has over 800 members.
Other townspeople have shared their own horror stories, and the gang is said to have been active for over two years – with other kids and even pensioners being alleged victims of its brutality.
The ringleader is thought to be a 13-year-old girl. Many of the attacks are filmed and shared online.
The Facebook group members are considering holding a “peaceful protest”.
Since setting it up, Sharon says she has received a number of abusive messages allegedly from those in the gang.
One threatens: “I’m not being funny you stupid looking f***. See if you don’t get me and my pals off your stupid f****** Facebook page I’m going to punch utter f*** out of you.
“I know where you live. I also know where you work. See if you don’t get your actions right and get me and my pals off your Facebook I swear to f***.”
But she said police have done little to help her or others, and simply advise them the group will eventually give up.
Speaking to The Sun, she said: “I need to do something. I can live in fear but I can live in fear and do something about it. I’ve got a target on my back anyway, as has my daughter.”
She added: “They’ve just made our lives miserable for the past year and I don’t understand why a group of 12 youths can have so much control in one town and why…nothing can be done…the system is broken and it’s wrong.”
Tanith had been volunteering at the club one evening and had stepped outside to get some fresh air when she was attacked.
Sharon said: “Within seconds she was surrounded by 12 youths, mostly girls. They just picked a fight, saying ‘what did you call me? Are you looking at me?’
“My daughter said they weren’t even on her radar.
“They’ve pulled her down by her hair and they are all kicking her, stamping on her, pulling her hair.
“They’ve smacked her head off the concrete curb, and set fire to her hair. It just turns my stomach. That’s when the nightmare began.”
They’ve just made our lives miserable for the past year and I don’t understand why a group of 12 youths can have so much control in one town and why…nothing can be done…the system is broken and it’s wrong.
Sharon Bavaird
Sharon said having the “audacity” to report the attack has only made her the group’s number one target.
And worst still, the police don’t seem to be taking it seriously.
“I just thought you speak up and go to the police and someone gets punished, but no. That’s not what happens and it makes me so angry,” she said.
Sharon understands another girl was also set upon outside the youth club, while others have been attacked at various points in the town centre, including the bus station and swimming pool.
While she was at work at a supermarket, Sharon said a customer had to intervene when the ringleader squared up to her “inches from me and threatening to stab me”.
“The attacks are always filmed and shared, because they can,” she said.
“You speak to people and they say, ‘oh yeah they assaulted my neighbour’s daughter or whoever’. It’s just a given.”
11
11
11
11
Free public transport for teens in Scotland means the group can “roam” across much of the town itself as they please, Sharon said.
The group’s “trademark” is said to be “grabbing girls with long hair”, meaning parents are warning their daughters to tie it back.
Sharon doesn’t drive and relies on public transport. She and Tanith were coming home from the cinema one Sunday evening recently and members of the group threatened them.
She said she reported it to the police but they told her their “hands are tied”.
“We are almost prisoners in our own home, we avoid going out as much as possible.
We are almost prisoners in our own home, we avoid going out as much as possible.
Sharon Bavaird
“My daughter has just turned 16, she should be out at a youth club, she should feel safe going down to the local shop.
“One night they came to my work and waited outside so someone ran me home.
“They then went to the local bus station and battered two pensioners and another child.”
Sharon said it has turned parts East Kilbride into a ghost town.
“I was saying to my daughter at the bus station, ‘look how quiet it is’. Even the town centre by the shopping centre where they are usually hanging about it’s just not as busy.
“You just get a sense that because this group is known to be at the bus station, it’s putting people off.
“They are destroying businesses, people are avoiding going places and using those facilities.
“They know where the CCTV is, they know where it isn’t good quality, they know what they can get away with.”
Sharon said after the attack on Tanith was left with her “hair falling out, bruised, battered, shaking in shock”.
“The police were more concerned if it was filmed because you can certainly do something then. Are you kidding me?” she added.
Referring to the gang leader, Sharon said: “She knows she’s untouchable… we’ve had constant threats and abuse.”
She continued: “A year on and nothing’s changed. There’s just another year’s worth of victims.”
She said an officer interviewing her said: “I’m sure they’ll get bored of it soon.”
“I said to him ‘no, this has been solid for two years’”.
She said Tanith even fears for her life.
“My daughter actually said to me…‘mum, they’re going to kill me. They’re not going to stop until they’ve killed me. This is how I’m going to die.’
“It’s so hard hearing that. You’re saying absolutely not. I’m going to do everything in my power to try to make somebody listen.
“My daughter is a straight A student, she’s a clever, sophisticated girl for her age. She’s convinced that’s how she’s going to end up.”
Sharon continued: “I’m just a single mum, I’m a florist, I’m nothing special. I’m reaching out to everyone… There’s hundreds of families like mine. Only a few that will speak out.
“Something needs to be done…Surely this one child cannot run a town.
“I’m in a position where I can’t go back in the box. They know I know and I’m speaking out.”
Chief Inspector Gary Ferguson, Local Area Commander, told The Sun: “Recently we have received a number of reports of antisocial behaviour and youth violence in the East Kilbride area.
“This behaviour is not acceptable and we are working with partner agencies to address it.
“Officers are carrying out additional patrols and those found to be responsible for criminality will be traced and reported.
“Our communities should be environments for all to enjoy without fear of intimidation or violence.”
Police previously told the Daily Record in May: “Officers are aware of recent incidents involving groups of youths within East Kilbride committing assaults and recording these acts on mobile phones.
“Four female youths aged between 13 and 15 have been traced and reports have been submitted to the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration.”
11
11
11