A girl from Lancashire left her prom in tears after bullies ‘repeatedly stamped’ on her expensive prom dress, filming and laughing as they destroyed it.
Jessica Robinson, 11, was attending her primary school prom last month when bullies ruined her dress – and her night.
Jessica’s mum, Micha Robinson, from Blackpool, said Jessica was left so distraught that she ‘didn’t come out of her room’ and refused to attend school for the final two days of term.
She said Jessica had faced bullying for the last three years.
However, her community heard about the bullies ruining Jessica’s prom night and have since rallied round to give her an end-of-school send off she deserves.
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Jessica wore a floor length, royal blue gown to her big night, complete with a blue rose corsage and a white sparkly handbag.
Micha said that when she dropped Jessica off, ‘everything was fine’ but when she picked her up, ‘she came to me in tears’.
‘She was crying her eyes out, with all of her dress torn to pieces,’ she added.
‘Apparently the bully was stamping all over the dress and kids were there recording her on a phone, laughing while they did it.’
Micha shared a post on Facebook about what happened and since then, her local community has come together to give Jessica a prom do-over this weekend, the Daily Mail reports.
Businesses have offered up their services free of charge, including Notorious Bar, owned by Libbie Cannon, which will host the ‘Ballgowns & Bravery’ event.
Libbie reached out to bikers in the area to request a group chaperone, as well as to locals and other businesses in the hope they would attend or ‘simply spread the word’.
She wrote on Facebook: ‘[Jessica] attended her primary school prom, but the night ended in heartbreak when she was attacked, leaving her dress torn apart.
‘Since then, our community has rallied around her, with many local businesses – myself included – coming together to give her the prom she truly deserves.’
She added that the ‘magical’ event would ‘replace that painful memory with something unforgettable’.
Businesses in the area have volunteered to supply balloons, a red carpet entrance, a DJ and security for the event – as well as a car for Jessica to arrive in, and a free repair for her ruined dress.
Libbie told the Daily Mail: ‘We’ve definitely all rallied together to help Jessica. The response has been absolutely fantastic.
‘She looked absolutely stunning and gorgeous. She looked like a real-life Cinderella – and she left the prom with having her dress literally ripped from her.
‘Being around bullying as a child, it really pulled at my heart strings.
‘We need to make it better for her. We need a lasting memory and to restore her faith in humans because it’s just been absolutely horrific for her.’
She said more than 50 children are expected to attend the ball tomorrow.
Micha said Jessica had experienced bullying she she was in year three.
‘She was coming home with bruises on her arms and she wouldn’t go to school.
‘Three years on, it’s come to her prom night and the bully destroyed her dress.
‘When it first happened to her on prom night, she wouldn’t come out of her room and wouldn’t speak to anyone.
‘After the prom, they still had two days left of school and she didn’t go in.’
She added Jessica was now receiving counselling.
Thanks to a kind offer of a free repair to Jessica’s dress, she plans to wear it again to the ball.
‘She’s excited,’ Micha said. ‘She can’t wait and hopefully she can make better memories.
‘I’m over the moon. I couldn’t thank the community enough.’
The incident has been reported to Lancashire Police and Metro has approached the force for comment.
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