By james art The murdered transgender teenager, aged 16, had thousands of followers on TikTok and YouTube, where she posted video content about make-up, hair and dancing, Warrington Coroner Court heard.
Concerns had been raised about her online interactions before her killing spree, but she had refused to allow her mother access to her phone and her school had also been unable to remove the device from her, the hearing was told.
Brianna, 16, was lured to Culcheth Linear Park by classmate Scarlett Jenkinson and her boyfriend Eddie Ratcliffe, both 15 at the time, where she was stabbed 28 times with a hunting knife on February 11 last year.
From the age of 14, Jenkinson enjoyed watching videos of real murders and torture on the dark web, fantasizing about murder and developing an interest in serial killers.
The murder trial revealed that the “frenzied” and “brutal” killing had elements of sadism, with the victim’s trans identity as the second motive. Both murderers were sentenced to life in prison.
Brianna’s investigation revealed that she had been diagnosed with ADHD and autism, had self-harmed, and struggled with anxiety and an eating disorder.
Her school, Birchwood High, found out she was involved in online groups promoting eating disorders and self-harm, but she refused to get involved in internet safety tips.
Her mother, Esther Gay, has expressed concern for her well-being and safety, particularly her engagement on social media and the length of time she spends online.
But despite being offered help, Brianna again struggled to engage with any support services, the inquest heard.
She had thousands of followers on TikTok and YouTube, but she wouldn’t let her mother have access to her phone and rarely left it as it was always with her.
In December 2022, a panel meeting of school and other professionals deemed her a “medium risk” of child sexual exploitation.
Fiona Cowan, head of child protection at Warrington Council, said the local authority or school could not force children to engage with support services and Brianna’s social worker was trying to work with her and had “conversations” about the use of TikTok and social media.
Jacqueline Devonish, senior investigator for Cheshire, asked about concerns surrounding Brianna’s phone use and whether the school may have taken her phone from her.
Ms Cowan said: “It will be up to parents, as a local authority we have no responsibility to allow us to remove a phone.”
Ms Cowan said she was aware police removed a child’s phone if they believed the child was at risk.
The inquest held shortly before her murder, Brianna refused to come to school and a meeting was held with school principals and her grandmother Marion Gay on February 7 last year.
He had to discuss her ‘unacceptable behaviour’, including using a mobile phone at school and ‘challenging behaviour’, including being disrespectful to staff and the length of her skirt, which she was constantly rolling up to make it shorter.
Brianna “didn’t react well” to the meeting, was rude, said the school rules were “ridiculous,” wouldn’t comply, and wouldn’t return to school.
Her grandmother thanked the school staff and apologized for Brianna’s behavior.
Ms Cowan said a safeguards review of the case had concluded despite Jenkinson’s involvement in bringing cannabis into her two schools, no one could reasonably have foreseen that she would go on to commit murder.
Authorities were unaware of Jenkinson’s fascination with violence or that she used the dark web to fuel her wild fantasies, and there was no evidence of “lapses” in the work of the school and council that led to the murder.
Esther Ghey is now campaigning to raise awareness of the dangers of social media to children and to introduce more parental controls.
The investigation is due to conclude later on Friday.