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The Independent
8 hours ago
- The Independent
Groomed terror suspect not treated as a ‘vulnerable child', says her mother
The mother of an autistic teenager who was groomed and 'brainwashed' by right-wing extremists says she was not treated as a vulnerable child before she took her own life. Rhianan Rudd, who died aged 16, had an 'obsession with Hitler', downloaded a bomb-making manual, and threatened to 'blow up' a synagogue after she was radicalised online by an American neo-Nazi. In the 18 months before she died, Rhianan was diagnosed with autism, investigated by counter-terrorism policing and MI5, and prosecuted over terrorism charges after she had been groomed and allegedly sexually exploited by extremists. Senior coroner Judge Alexia Durran concluded that she was not satisfied that Rhianan intended to end her own life at Chesterfield Coroner's Court on Monday. She said that 'missed opportunities' in Rhianan's case were 'not systemic' and she will not make a prevention of future deaths report. In an interview, Rhianan's mother, Emily Carter, said she believes the teenager's death was preventable and the agencies involved in her case need to be held accountable. Ms Carter said: 'They need to recognise that the way they dealt with things was not the correct way, because she's dead. 'I don't ever want this to happen to another family. This has been devastating. 'If I could save just one child from these people making all their changes and making sure they follow through with everything, there's justice in my eyes – my daughter didn't kill herself for no reason. 'It was just one thing after another basically, but all of them should learn from Rhianan's death, all of them.' Ms Carter said Rhianan was not treated as a vulnerable child, despite her autism diagnosis, and she does not believe her daughter was ever a threat to other people. The mother said: 'She was five foot one, weighed seven stone. She was tiny. 'I don't know what people thought she could do, but I don't believe that she was ever a threat. It was just what people would put in her head – brainwashed her, basically. 'They (the agencies) treated her as a child, but I don't believe they treated her as a vulnerable child. 'If you've got vulnerable children, you take extra steps to watch them, to look after them, to make sure they feel safe, even from themselves, and they didn't. Obviously, she's dead.' The mother said the moment 19 police officers and two detectives came to arrest her daughter at their family home was 'mind-numbing' and she felt 'violated' when officers turned her house 'upside down'. She said: 'It hurt … the fact that they thought that my daughter was some sort of massive terrorist. 'They were going to put her in handcuffs, but the handcuffs didn't go small enough. Even on the smallest ones, they just fell off her hands. That's how small she was.' The inquest heard that the police did not refer Rhianan to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), which identifies victims of human trafficking or modern slavery, when they began investigating her in 2020, but the referral was made by Derbyshire County Council in April 2021. Her mother says the NRM referral should have been done 'at the very beginning' because 'they could see that she was vulnerable'. Ms Carter added that she thinks Rhianan should not have been charged, and said: 'She was a child, a vulnerable child. A child with mental health issues. 'She should have been treated as a victim more than anything.' The mother also said it 'angered' her that Rhianan was investigated by MI5 before her death and added: 'If they knew that my daughter was being groomed and sexually exploited online, and then you're investigating at that time, why did nobody come and stop it? 'Why watch a child be completely humiliated, sexualised, trafficked, brainwashed?' Speaking about her daughter's autism diagnosis, Ms Carter said Rhianan would get fixated and 'sucked into' something until it was the 'be all and end all of everything'. She said Rhianan's fixations began with My Little Pony before she became interested in German history, wanted '1940s German furniture in her bedroom', and eventually made contact with extremists on the messaging apps Telegram and Discord. Ms Carter said: 'Finding out that she'd been groomed, and the way these people talked to her … it really changed her wholeness as a person, the way she thinks, the way she feels, everything.' She said that Rhianan was a 'bubbly' girl but she became withdrawn after she was radicalised, and added that the extremists 'took away an innocent child' and 'took away her substance as a person'. She said: 'After she started talking to her so-called friend online – I thought she was talking to gamer friends and friends from school – she started withdrawing. 'She stopped talking about normal things. She wasn't very bubbly, and I'd literally have to drag her out the house.' Ms Carter said she believes Rhianan's death could have been prevented if she was placed in a mental health unit, rather than the children's home, to 'deal with her mood swings, her brain going mad'. She said: 'They don't know a child like a mother does. Even when she was at home, I would wake up two or three times throughout the night and go and check her. These houses aren't guaranteed to do that.' The mother added that it was 'scary' when she referred her daughter to Prevent but she 'knew it had to be done'. She said: 'I was hoping that it was just going to take her two or three times a week to work on her mind, unpick her head, and turn her back into Rhianan. 'Not end up with all these police officers turning up arresting her and pulling my house apart. You don't expect that at all.' The inquest heard that Rhianan took an overdose of her mother's medication after being encouraged to by the 'two competing individuals' in her mind a week before she was charged and moved to the children's home. Recalling that moment, Ms Carter said: 'I go down the stairs and Rhianan was laying on my living room floor. And I actually thought she was dead, but she wasn't. 'She basically called them (an ambulance) when she decided that she changed her mind and didn't want to die.' Ms Carter continued: 'I've made mistakes, and I want the organisations to put their hands up and admit they've made mistakes and to rectify their mistakes so it doesn't happen again. 'And then that way everybody can be happy, except me, because I've already lost my daughter.' Ms Carter described Rhianan as 'loving, kind' and a 'really beautiful soul'. She added: 'Her brother, Brandon, and Rhianan were like two peas in a pod, and he just feels completely lost without her.'
West Australian
07-05-2025
- West Australian
Fitzroy Crossing launches ‘Us Without Abuse' to tackle family violence
The streets of Fitzroy Crossing were awash with orange as hundreds of community members donned T-shirts to mark the launch of Us Without Abuse, a joint campaign by Kimberley Community Legal Services and the Marnin Women's Centre. The colour — symbolic of the fight against domestic violence — stood as a powerful statement against both domestic violence and elder abuse. The campaign follows the deaths of two women, allegedly at the hands of their partners, in the Shire of Derby-West Kimberley in less than six months. Police charged a Derby man with one count of murder over the death of a 32-year-old Fitzroy Crossing woman on December 14 last year. On Easter Sunday, a 38-year-old man was charged with the murder of a 39-year-old woman in Mowanjum Aboriginal Community near Derby. Marninwarntikura Women's Resource Centre CEO Emily Carter didn't mince words, calling for immediate action against family violence across the region in a speech. 'This is not just a message — it's a movement. A call for accountability, healing and action. In the Fitzroy Valley, we don't wait for solutions — we lead them,' Ms Carter said. Despite the gravity of the matter, after speeches by leaders and a march led by Gurama Yani U (Men's Shed), the community gathered on Fitzroy Oval to enjoy lunch, kids' entertainment, and music performances by local artists. The family-themed inclusive event showcased the Fitzroy Valley's community spirit in times of darkness. The Us Without Abuse campaign has spent the past six months tackling family violence and harmful behaviours across TV, radio, and online. Featuring personal stories from Kimberley locals, the campaign works to destigmatise abuse and empower individuals to speak out. Kimberley Community Legal Services CEO Christine Robinson said the partnerships with Kimberley organisations and leaders were elevating the campaign's reach and message. 'We are excited to be joining local communities and organisations to bring the campaign face-to-face with people across the region,' Ms Robinson said. The campaign has also been nominated for the upcoming Community Service Excellence Awards, with winners to be announced at the WACOSS Conference on Monday. 'Being recognised in the upcoming awards would be a brilliant way to amplify this powerful campaign and continue making a meaningful impact on such a vital issue,' Ms Robinson said.
Associated Press
26-02-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Dancing Disc Expands Accessibility to Professional Dance Flooring with Exclusive Offer For the Dancer Community
Dancing Disc announces a limited-time opportunity for dancers to elevate their practice with professional-grade Portable Marley Dance Floors, available through a dedicated landing page. United States, February 26, 2025 -- Dancing Disc, a leading provider of premium portable dance flooring, is thrilled to announce an exclusive 25% discount on its Portable Marley Dance Floors. Designed for dancers of all levels, its high-quality, easy-to-use floors allow performers to practice anywhere, anytime. This special offer is available for a limited time only through a dedicated landing page to allow dancers, studios, and educators to invest in top-tier flooring at a reduced price. The company's flagship product, the original Dancing Disc, has transformed dancers preparing for professional and personal advancement. Dancing Disc has been dedicated to helping dancers by giving them a safe and professional-level surface on which to practice. Knowing the significance of proper flooring for dancers, Dancing Disc develops a solution that enables dancers to practice at their convenience. The company has perfected its designs over the years to cater to the changing needs of dancers to provide best-in-class performance. Every Dancing Disc is made in the USA and boasts a high-quality Marley surface, an anti-slip rubber base for extra stability, and a tapered edge that encourages safe footwork. The product also comes with a sturdy handle for convenient portability which is designed to enable dancers to carry their practice sessions anywhere. Dancing Disc's commitment to accessibility and quality has positioned it as a leader in the dance flooring industry. As dancers seek reliable and effective solutions for their training needs, the company's innovative products remain at the forefront of the market. The success of this campaign is expected to drive increased awareness and sales which in turn is set out to help more dancers gain access to professional flooring solutions that enhance their performance. Customers share insights based on their experiences of Dancing Disc's flooring: 'The Portable Marley Dance Floor from Dancing Disc has completely transformed my home practice. It is lightweight, easy to roll out, and gives me the perfect surface for ballet and contemporary training,' said Emily Carter who is a professional dancer and instructor. 'The Dancing Disc has revolutionized my practice routine completely. The professional-grade surface feels like a stage floor in a studio, and it is so portable that I can train anywhere since I can trust it to deliver consistent performance even when I am not on stage,' comments Jessica Martinez, a professional tap dancer recommending the portable dance floors to the community. As a company that values its customers, Dancing Disc remains focused on providing exceptional service. The 25% discount is a testament to this commitment, allowing dancers to invest in their passion without the financial burden often associated with high-quality flooring. Dancing Disc has always prioritized innovation, and this launch further demonstrates its ability to adapt to the evolving needs of the dance community. The company understands the importance of providing accessible solutions, and this latest initiative is a reflection of its ongoing mission to make high-quality dance flooring available to a wider audience. Dancing Disc is dedicated to innovation and excellence in the industry. With an emphasis on quality, the company continues to create products that meet the demands of dancers of all ages and skill levels. About Dancing Disc Dancing Disc is an innovative brand that deals in portable dance floors, which offer professional-grade surfaces for dancers to train, rehearse, and perform on. Dancing Disc was started with the dream of making dance more accessible and of better quality. Dancing Disc has developed innovative products that cater to the requirements of dancers in all genres. The organization aims to provide high-quality training to dancers through the blend of innovative products along with expert advisors to achieve excellence for its consumers. For more information about how Dancing Disc, refer to the details below. Contact Info: Name: Liz Vega Email: Send Email Organization: Dancing Disc Address: Los Alamitos, CA 90720 U.S.A. Phone: 562-310-5903 Release ID: 89153708
