Two heavily intoxicated women have admitted carrying out a vicious and unprovoked assault at Birmingham New Street Station, which saw a man shoved onto live railway tracks and his girlfriend left with broken teeth and lasting psychological trauma.
Platform Attack Leaves Victims with Severe Injuries
Morgan Cox and Ellouise Parker, both aged 23, approached the couple on a station platform late on the evening of April 11 last year. The incident began when the pair asked for a sip of the female victim's drink, only to consume the entire beverage, sparking a confrontation.
Prosecutor Owen Beale detailed how the couple attempted to walk away from the situation, but were pursued by the intoxicated defendants. "The defendants ran up behind and attacked (the woman) by the escalator," Mr Beale stated. "The two of them punched and kicked her. She had a bloodied nose and broken teeth."
Man Pushed onto Live Railway in Terrifying Ordeal
The assault then escalated dramatically as the attackers turned their attention to the male victim. He was pushed off the platform onto the live railway tracks below, in what could have been a fatal incident. Fortunately, he managed to climb back onto the platform without sustaining physical injury from the electrified rails, though he suffered a gash to his head, multiple bruises, and a cut to his lower back during the continued attack.
The court heard how the man now feels nervous at train stations and is "scared to go near the platform" following the traumatic experience, stating he believed he could have died during the incident.
Lasting Impact on Female Victim's Life
The female victim has suffered significant and ongoing complications from her injuries, particularly the damage to her teeth. In a victim impact statement, she revealed the profound effect on her daily life and mental wellbeing.
"I can no longer smile," she told the court. "It has deeply affected my self-esteem and confidence. I now cover my mouth when I speak out of shame and embarrassment. Other people notice. I continue to struggle emotionally and suffer flashbacks, particularly when I pass through the location of the assault."
Sentencing and Rehabilitation Considerations
At Birmingham Magistrates' Court, both Cox, from Shard End, and Parker, from Sheldon, admitted two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. District Judge Michelle Smith described the attack as one of the most serious types of offence the court had the power to deal with, noting it was a sustained, unprovoked group attack at a public transport hub.
Despite the severity, Judge Smith ultimately spared the women immediate custody, citing their early guilty pleas (which resulted in a one-third sentence reduction), lack of previous convictions, and steps taken to address their alcohol consumption. "This has been a real wake-up call," said defence solicitor Shabeer Qureshi, who noted both women were in education and had since curbed their drinking with family support.
Court Imposes Suspended Sentences with Strict Conditions
The defendants each received 12-month prison sentences suspended for 18 months, including:
- 25 days of rehabilitation activity requirements
- Drug testing requirements
- £100 compensation payments to each victim (£400 total)
- Intensive Supervision Court orders
The ISC orders, currently only available to low-level female offenders in Birmingham, require regular probation meetings and monthly sessions with a judge at a civil justice centre. Judge Smith concluded the "prospect of rehabilitation" was high given the defendants' circumstances and remorse.
The case highlights the serious consequences of alcohol-fuelled violence in public spaces, particularly at major transport hubs where such incidents can have catastrophic outcomes.
