Sophie Lancaster & Boyfriend Attacked Because They Were “Goth”

Summary: Robert Maltby and Sophie Lancaster had dated for about three years. One night as the couple walked through a park headed home, a group of teens attacked Robert. Sophie stepped in to defend her boyfriend. When she did, the teens stamped on her head and jumped up and down on her body. Sophie died from her injuries in the hospital 13-days after the attack. Five people were charged with their deaths, but charges against three of the teens were dismissed.

On August 11, 2007, 20-year-old Sophie Lancaster and her boyfriend, 21-year-old Robert Maltby, walked through Stubbylee Park in Lancashire. The couple was headed home after a fun night out. The couple had been together for about three years at this time.

Described as a “goth” couple, Robert and Sophia were brutally attacked as they passed the skatepark by a group of teenagers who did not approve of the way they looked or dressed.

The teens began following Robert and Sophie until one of them knocked Robert unconscious. Sophie tried protecting her boyfriend, but the group of teens took their anger out on her instead in an attack that proved fatal.

The teens began violently hitting and kicking Sophie. A witness told police that the teens were “kicking her in the head and jumping up and down on her head.”

He phoned the police.

Police arrived a few minutes later. Due to the severity of the attack, police could not identify which person was Robert and which was Sophie.

Robert and Sophie were rushed to a local hospital. Sophie immediately went into a coma and never came out. She died 13-days later. Robert eventually recovered from his injuries but is left with memories of the event forever.

Teens Brag About the Attack

After the attack, The Guardian reported, “The killers celebrated their attack on the goths -or ‘moshers’- by telling friends that they had ‘done summat (something) good,’ claiming, ‘There’s two moshers nearly dead up Bacup park -you wanna see them - they’re a right mess.’

Police Arrest Five Teens, Suspect Others

On September 6, 2007, five teens were charged for the murder of Sophie and attack on Robert, although police said as many as 15 people may have been involved in the attack. The judge dismissed murder charges against Daniel Mallett, Joseph Hulme, and Danny Hulme. He sentenced the Holmes brothers to 5 years, 10-months. Mallett received a 4-year sentence.

Brendan Harris and Ryan Herbert were both found guilty of murder and for the attack on Robert. The judge sentenced both teens to life with the possibility of parole in 16 and 18 years, respectively.

Harris Attacks Psychiatric Nurse

While imprisoned, Harris attacked a nurse at the psychiatric center where he is housed, threatening to kill the nurse and then breaking his nose after a heavy-handed punch. He was given an additional four months on top of his life sentence.

Herbert Accesses Cell Phone, Uses Social Media

For two months, Sophie Lancaster’s mother watched on as Herbert assessed a social media account from his prison cell. She thought his messages were “arrogant” and “self-centered” and thought it was shocking that he had access to social media while incarcerated.

Herbert Receives Reduced Sentence

In 2020, a judge reduced Herbert’s sentence by one year because he had presented “exemplary” behavior while incarcerated. Herbert is eligible for parole in February 2022.

Now that you've read the Sophie Lancaster story, check out some of the other great true crime stories available. The Philando Castile case shook the world back in 2016. A police officer pulled Castile over for a pretext traffic stop. His girlfriend and her daughter were in the car. The officer shot Philando when he told him he had a legal gun.

Then, read the story of Annabella Parker. This tragic case is heartbreaking. This beautiful little girl was murdered by her mother's boyfriend.