15-05-2025
"Helpless" teen battered in street and filmed by yobs too scared to go to school
Jennifer Storrar said her initial complaints to the police and her daughter's school were not taken seriously, leaving her "helpless".
A Scots mum has said her daughter is still terrified to go to school, weeks after she was set upon in the street by a gang of youths, who also filmed the shocking incident.
Jennifer Storrar, whose daughter Skye is a pupil at Whitburn Academy in West Lothian, previously told how the 12-year-old was reportedly punched and kicked in the middle of the street.
The 36-year-old told our sister title Edinburgh Live that she had reported the incident on April 29 to both the school and Police Scotland, but that no further action was taken.
However, after Edinburgh Live approached the force again, it confirmed a 13-year-old girl has now been reported to the relevant authorities following an alleged assault.
A spokesperson for West Lothian Council also confirmed the local authority is to continue working with the police and families involved to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.
The frightening ordeal left Skye covered in bruises as she appeared to be attacked while lying on the pavement. In shocking video footage shared by Jennifer, other schoolkids can be heard laughing in the background.
The mum refused to let Skye return to school for the rest of the week, and said she was left "helpless" after her early complaints were "passed back and forth" between the police and Whitburn Academy.
She said: "I feel like the situation has not being taken seriously at all. Two weeks later I was no further forward with the police as they stated it was a school matter, but the school reported it back to them.
"Nothing seemed to be progressing and meanwhile my daughter was scared to go to school. As a parent I was feeling helpless and increasingly worried for her wellbeing."
After learning a girl had been reported in connection with the assault, she added: "I believe the time it took to trace the girl was unacceptable, and the police response felt dismissive - referring to her as 'only 13' undermines the seriousness of the situation.
"They initially stated it was a school matter and the school stated it was a police matter so they both were passing the buck.
"Many young people today view getting into trouble with the police as a rite of passage - something to be proud of, rather than deterred by."
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A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'On Tuesday, 29 April, 2025, officers received a report of an assault of a 12-year-old girl on West Main Street, Whitburn.
'A 13-year-old girl has been reported to the relevant authorities in connection.'
A spokesperson for West Lothian Council said: 'Whitburn Academy takes all allegations of bullying seriously, with staff working to provide a safe and supportive environment for all pupils.
'While we have no control over what takes places outside the school grounds, we will continue to work with both Police Scotland and the families concerned, to ensure the issue is addressed and resolved as quickly as possible.'
Our Kids ... Our Future has demanded the Scottish Government to ring-fence funding in safe spaces for kids in every community, where they can be nurtured, mentored and guided.
In addition, we have called on social media giants to introduce robust measures to ensure violent clips of teens do not circulate on platforms.
