A mother-of-two with multiple sclerosis was left covered in cuts and bruises after she confronted a 13-year-old girl who has been bullying her daughter for months.
Rebecca Goodhand, from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, was picking up her 13-year-old daughter from Morrisons in Halfway when she was told of an incident between her and another girl.
Miss Goodhand decided to confront the girl, who she claims has been bullying her daughter for the past six months.
Rebecca Goodhand, 40, from Sheffield, South Yorkshire was attacked in a supermarket after she stood up to a girl, 14, who was allegedly bullying her 13-year-old daughter
Ms Goodhand, who suffers from MS, was taken to hospital following the car park attack
However, the confrontation turned into assault after Miss Goodhand was left laying on the floor after being attacked twice by the girl and the group she was with.
‘The issue with this particular girl has been going on for months,’ said Miss Goodhand, a 40-year-old single parent.
‘She said something to my daughter so when I saw her leave I just wanted to know what her problem is. The situation with this girl has gone on long enough.
‘We have had my daughter hiding in school asking us to pick her up because the girl and her friends were after her.
‘The girl’s response to me confronting her was to punch me twice in the face. I am not very well at the moment and these people are aware of that. I am in pain and I can barely lift anything. I just can’t believe a child can have the audacity to strike a 40-year-old woman.’
Her daughter had been at Morrisons with friends but when Miss Goodhand was picking her up, she noticed her daughter was upset.
Ms Goodhand said when she confronted the girl, the youngster punched her twice in the face which knocked her to the ground
The girl, who has been bullying her for the past six months as they both attend the same school, was at the store and said something to her.
Miss Goodhand saw the girl, who was with a group of friends, when they were about to leave and confronted her over her behaviour towards her daughter.
She asked the girl ‘what her problem was with her daughter?’ and claims the girl responded by punching Miss Goodhand twice in the face, knocking her to the ground.
Miss Goodhand has had MS for five years and her condition means she is very weak while struggling with pain.
She also had surgery to insert a metal cage around her neck due to issue with her spinal compression.
The girl then phoned her mother after initially knocking Miss Goodhand to the ground.
When the girl’s mother turned up a second assault on Miss Goodhand began with allegedly six people getting involved.
Miss Goodhand was left in a daze during the assault, which saw her glasses being smashed.
She also suffered scratches near her eyes after someone is believed to have attempted to ‘gouge her eyes out’.
A teenage boy, who was with the girl, also started to kick and stamp on her as Miss Goodhand lay on the floor.
Miss Goodhand’s other daughter, who is 11-years-old, jumped on top of her mum to protect her because she knows how ill she is but the boy continued to kick them both.
The incident happened outside the Morrisons supermarket in Halfway, Sheffield
By this point, even some of the friends in the group told him to stop.
The incident came to an end when police and an ambulance were called for Miss Goodhand, who was left unable to get up.
A man called Fred, who was at Morrisons to pick up his wife, came to her aid and brought coats to keep her warm while they waited for an ambulance in freezing temperatures.
Police were speaking to the people involved as the parents of girl were said to be ‘smirking’ about the situation as Miss Goodhand was on the floor.
Miss Goodhand was taken to hospital but thankfully both her and her -11-year-old only suffered cuts and bruises to the head and body.
She said: ‘I may have only suffered cuts and bruises but because of the MS, the pain is now even worse. I just cannot believe what happened. The whole thing is disgusting. The worst part is my girls are now traumatised by what happened. My 11-year-old daughter jumped on me to try to protect me but they didn’t care.
Ms Goodhand said she only suffered cuts and bruises as a result of the attack, however due to her multiple sclerosis, she was subjected to considerably more pain
‘They were all quite happy to stand around and do nothing while an 11-year-old is getting stamped on. My daughter has a lump on the back of her head and cuts and bruises. The parents had a smirk on their face while police were speaking to them all.
‘I guess this is what they think is good parenting these days. If it had been my child that had done something like this, they would have been punished and I would have phoned the police myself over what they had done.’
A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police said: ‘Police are investigating after a woman was assaulted outside of a Sheffield supermarket over the weekend.
‘At around 6.40pm on Saturday 24 February, officers were called to Oxclose Park Road North, following a report that a 40-year-old woman had been assaulted by a girl, thought to be around 14-years-old.
‘The woman was taken to hospital to be treated for facial injuries. Her injuries are not described as serious.
‘The victim also had her 11-year-old daughter with her at the time of the incident, who sustained minor injuries as well.
‘Enquiries are now ongoing to ascertain the exact circumstances surrounding the incident and anyone who saw what happened should call 101 quoting incident number 837 of 24 February 2018.’