Two British teens were sentenced this week for the torture of a 16-year-old girl which largely played out on social media.
The BBC reported that Chyane Stephenson-Dielhenn, 18, and a 16-year-old accomplice committed the barbaric acts in a hostel room where they kept the victim hostage. Prosecutor Elaine Cousins said the pair burned the victim with cigarettes, punched her, poured sugar in her ears, forced her to snort a tea and salt mixture, and made her eat her own vomit and noodles soaked in urine.
Describe their actions, Cousins called it an “unprovoked, cruel and sickening attack on an innocent young girl [committed] by people that she considered to be her friends,” according to the news outlet.
The Evening Standard reported that the pair posted some of the torture on Snapchat—with users sending in suggestions on what to do to the victim next.
“This was nothing other than a wicked and despicable attack over a period of up to 10 hours. The victim was assaulted and detained against her will and told if she left then her life and the lives of her family would be in danger. Some of the degradation was filmed on a phone,” prosecutor James Thacker explained.
The victim managed to run to the reception desk and get help after Stephenson-Dielhenn ordered her to take a shower. A court learned how the victim was left with a black eye in addition to being “psychologically scarred,” according to the Mirror.
The 16-year-old suspect—who has eight previous convictions—pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault and was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in a juvenile detention center. Meanwhile, Stephenson-Dielhenn was convicted of false imprisonment and assault causing actual bodily harm and will spend three years behind bars.
Cousins said of the victim, “I would like to commend her for her bravery in reporting this crime and for taking part in the proceedings. I hope this conviction provides her with some comfort and makes clear that those who commit such vile acts will be prosecuted.”
[Featured Image: Pixabay]
