It has been 15 years since the hate-fuelled murder of Sophie Lancaster and her loved ones are determined to keep her name alive.
On August 24, 2007, Sophie, from Haslingden, died after after being attacked in a park 'for looking like a goth'.
The Sophie Lancaster Foundation, which was set up after her death, has paid tribute to her.
It is the first year that Sophie’s mother Sylvia, who set up the foundation, is not here for the anniversary, as she sadly died earlier this year.
A spokesperson for the foundation said: “It is 15 years since Sophie died.
“After 13 days in hospital and after tests confirmed there was no hope, the machines were switched off. Twenty minutes later, Sophie died.
“That is the truth about violence and hate crime and that is where it takes us.
"To a young woman having her life extinguished for what reason? Because she was an individual and looked like she wanted to.
“To all those other individuals out there who support us, who turned Bloodstock into a pink sea of love and support, who come to events and message us in solidarity, thank you. We are strong together.”
The foundation also paid tribute to Sylvia, who died at Royal Blackburn Hospital back in April.
They said: “Sylvia made our work her legacy. This is the first anniversary of Sophie’s death since we lost Sylvia.
“We will continue to educate about prejudice and intolerance and work to shape a more empathetic world where we celebrate difference and are not afraid of it.”
On August 11, 2007, Sophie Lancaster, 20, and her boyfriend Robert Maltby were walking through Stubbylee Park in Bacup.
They were on their way home but encountered a group of teenage boys who started to attack Robert, kicking him in the head and knocking him unconscious.
Sophie tried to protect her boyfriend before the group launched a vicious attack on her.
A 15-year-old witness told police they were “kicking” and “jumping up and down” on her head.
Police said the pair received head injuries so severe that they could not ascertain which victim was Sophie and which was Robert.
They said the assault was possibly motivated by the couple’s gothic appearance.
After her daughter’s death, Sylvia said: "I am convinced Sophie was killed simply because of the way she looked.
"Because she did not necessarily conform to the ideals of those who took her life."
Robert suffered from internal bleeding which left him in a coma. He recovered but suffered from memory loss.
Sophie, who was in a deep coma, was placed on life support, and doctors said she would never regain consciousness.
On August 24, 2007, 13 days after the attack, her life support was terminated; 20 minutes later Sophie died.
Five teenagers were arrested for the attack and all of them pleaded guilty to the charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.
Ryan Herbert pleaded guilty to murder and a jury found Brendan Harris to also be guilty of murder.
Harris and Herbert were sentenced to life imprisonment with the trial judge recommending Harris should serve at least 18 years and Herbert at least 16 years and three months.
Joseph and Danny Hulme, and Daniel Mallett, who had all earlier pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent on Maltby, were also jailed.
Herbert has now been released from prison, less than 15 years after the attack, having made "exceptional progress" in jail.
Upon sentencing, Judge Anthony Russell QC said: "This was a terrible case which has shocked and outraged all who have heard about it.
“At least wild animals, when they hunt in packs, have a legitimate reason for so doing, to obtain food.
"You have none and your behaviour on that night degrades humanity itself."
As well as creating a legacy for Sophie, the aim of The Sophie Lancaster Foundation is to educate people and challenge their prejudices.
In May 2021, Coronation Street created a Bafta-winning plotline based on Sophie’s death.
In the show, Nina Lucas (played by Mollie Gallagher) and Seb Franklin (Harry Visinoni) , were attacked because of her gothic sub-culture.
The storyline saw Nina's boyfriend Seb (Harry Visinoni) die as a result of his injuries.
As a result, Nina changed the way she looks, wearing clothes that conformed her to society after thinking she was to blame for Seb’s death.
Gallagher's performance won her the Best Serial Drama Performance prize at the National Television Awards in 2021, which she dedicated to "everyone who doesn't fit the mould".
Before her death, Sylvia received recognition and awards for her work with the foundation.
Sylvia was awarded an OBE by Prince Charles on December 11, 2014, at Buckingham Palace as recognition of her work in ‘community cohesion - especially in the reduction of hate crime’.
In 2018, Sylvia received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bolton and the following year, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Surrey.
Find out more about The Sophie Lancaster Foundation by visiting their Facebook page.
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