Some think we’re safe All Emilea did was be unique

WHY do I say Covid-19 is all over? Well, went to the supermarket this morning and no restrictions, allowed in both doors, most people not wearing masks.

Then on the way home see people out having parties in their drives. Plus gazebos, bouncy castles...perfect bank holiday weekend.

This on top of my drive home from work through Manchester city centre to see the amount of people in and outside the pubs. One even had a police car opposite with both officers inside, not even bothered. So forget all instructions and guidelines – it’s all over, we’re safe. Name and address supplied

IT seems hard to understand for most people who would ever want to intentionally hurt another person’s feelings to a mammoth degree, as well as inflict intimidating aggression causing the victim to be terrified out of her wits.

But this is the story of what happened to young 14-year-old Emilea Hilton when she was targeted by a vicious gang purely because the young girl liked to dress in Gothic clothes; such that they are a little different to how other youngsters normally wear their apparel (M.E.N., August 31).

This story, in some ways, has massive similarities to the horrific murder of Sophie Lancaster in August 2007, who was targeted along with her boyfriend because they liked to dress in Gothic clothes.

Although, thank goodness, in the verbal and intimidating attack on Emilea, the young girl was not physically attacked – though instead had to endure a horrifically brutal bullying scenario inflicted by the vicious gang of thugs.

But when you see the photo of young Emilea stood next to her mother pictured in Bank Holiday Monday’s M.E.N., most readers would be totally incredulous how anyone would want to inflict tremendous suffering to this angelic looking teenager.

Howard Gardner, via email