A Lancashire community has come together to give a ‘real life Cinderella’ a ‘Prom re-do’ after she was filmed and laughed at as cruel bullies ‘tore her dress to pieces’.
Jessica Robinson, 11, left her primary school prom last month in tears when a bully ‘repeatedly stamped on’ her £450 blue dress as others ‘filmed it and laughed’ while it was ripped apart.
The schoolgirl was left so distraught by the incident she ‘didn’t come out of her room’ and refused to attend school for the final two days of term.
The distraught youngster has been the victim of bullying for the last three years, according to her mother Micha Robinson.
Ms Robinson, from Blackpool, Lancashire, said: ‘We dropped her off at prom, she went in and everything was fine but when I went to pick her up she came to me in tears.
‘She was crying her eyes out, with all of her dress torn to pieces.
‘Apparently the bully was stamping all over the dress and kids were there recording her on a phone, laughing while they did it.’
After sharing a post on Facebook about what happened, the community has rallied together to give the 11-year old a prom re-do this weekend, with local businesses offering up their services for free.
Owner of Notorious bar, Libbie Cannon, is offering use of her venue to host the ‘Ballgowns & Bravery’ event on Saturday.
She wrote in the post: ‘She attended her primary school prom, but the night ended in heartbreak when she was attacked, leaving her dress torn apart .
Since then, our community has rallied around her, with many local businesses — myself included — coming together to give her the prom she truly deserves.’
Ms Cannon added the ‘magical’ event will be to ‘replace that painful memory with something unforgettable.’
Other local business are supplying balloons, a red carpet entrance, a DJ and security for the event.
Ms Cannon said: ‘We’ve definitely all rallied together to help Jessica. The response has been absolutely fantastic.
‘She looked absolutely stunning and gorgeous. She looked like a real-life Cinderella – and she left the prom with having her dress literally ripped from her.
‘Being around bullying as a child, it really pulled at my heart strings.
‘We need to make it better for her. We need a lasting memory and to restore her faith in humans because it’s just been absolutely horrific for her.’
The 38-year-old explained that more than 50 children are expected to turn up to the prom re-do this weekend.
The mother added: ‘The bullying started when she was in year three. She was coming home with bruises on her arms and she wouldn’t go to school.
‘Three years on it’s come to her prom night and the bully destroyed her dress. She’s now under counselling for it.
‘When it first happened to her on prom night, she wouldn’t come out of her room and wouldn’t speak to anyone.
‘After the prom they still had two days left of school and she didn’t go in.’
Ms Robinson has since had Jessica’s blue dress repaired free of charge, and she plans on wearing it again to the event.
The mother said: ‘She’s excited, she can’t wait and hopefully she can make better memories.
‘I’m over the moon. I couldn’t thank the community enough.’
The incident has been reported to local police and Jessica has since been in counselling.
Lancashire Police has been contacted for comment.
