Female thugs jailed for bus attack on lone woman 'minding her own business' that left her brain-damaged

Two female thugs who left a young woman with catastrophic brain injuries following a brutal unprovoked street attack have been jailed for almost 20 years.

The 20-year-old victim had to be put in an induced coma after she was viciously assaulted by Atiyyah Gidden, 21, and Savannah Ward, 23, as she got off a bus in Birmingham city centre.

Birmingham Crown Court heard how the pair launched the horrific attack on the woman, who had been "minding her own business", on 1 May.

Moments earlier, the victim had been sat on a bus with a friend in front of a large group, who then followed the pair off the vehicle near Martineau Place.

After being "fly-kicked" in the head and punched and kicked in the head as she lay unconscious on the floor, she was found collapsed on Bull Street at around 9.40pm and rushed to hospital.

The woman was left in a critical condition fighting for her life and now has lasting brain damage and requires an extensive rehabilitation programme.

Aspiring singer Gidden was charged with causing wounding with intent after CCTV images showed her kicking and punching the victim to the head.

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She originally fled to Manchester, but handed herself in to police a month later.

Gidden, of Nechells, Birmingham, was found guilty following a trial and was jailed for 11 years.

In a police interview, Gidden claimed the victim had approached her first and accused her of staring. She said she had taken this to mean the victim wanted to fight.

Ward, of Aston, Birmingham, was jailed for eight and a half years after she pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm at an earlier hearing.

Detective Chief Inspector Vanessa Eyles, from West Midlands Police Force CID, said afterwards: “This disgusting attack has left a young woman with lasting brain damage.

"It’s had a severe impact on her life and shows the sheer force used to injure her.

“Although nothing at all will change the effect this has had on the young woman’s life, I hope it can provide her with some comfort, knowing that those who are responsible for the callous attack are behind bars for a considerable amount of time.”