Birmingham women jailed for attack causing brain damage
Two women who attacked another woman as she got off a bus in Birmingham city centre, leaving her with brain damage, have been jailed.
A 20-year-old woman was found collapsed in Bull Street just before 9.40pm on May 1 last year and taken to hospital with serious head injuries.
It was found that the victim had been sat on board the bus with her friend minding her own business in front of a large group.
As they all got near to Martineau Place in the city centre, an unprovoked attack left one woman in a critical condition and fighting for her life. She has lasting brain damage and has had to undertake an extensive rehabilitation programme.
Atiyyah Gidden, of Kellet Road in Nechells was charged with causing wounding with intent after CCTV images showed her kicking and punching the victim to the head.
She originally fled to Manchester, but handed herself in to police a month later.
The 21-year-old was jailed for 11 years at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday, despite pleading not guilty.
In police interview, Gidden claimed the victim had approached her first and had accused her of staring - she said she had took this to mean she wanted to fight.
Her accomplice, 23-year-old Savannah Ward, of Wryley Road in Aston who pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm at an earlier hearing, was handed an eight and a half year sentence on the same day last week.
Detective Chief Inspector Vanessa Eyles, from the Force CID team, said: “This disgusting attack has left a young woman with lasting brain damage. It’s had a severe impact on her life and shows the sheer force used to injure her.
“Although nothing at all will change the effect this has had on the young woman’s life, I hope it can provide her with some comfort, knowing that those who are responsible for the callous attack are behind bars for a considerable amount of time.”
