In August 2007, Sophie Lancaster was kicked to death, simply for dressing differently. Two years on, and in tribute to the outgoing, bubbly girl who was denied the chance to live life her way, cult new British make-up brand Illamasqua has commissioned a short film by award-winning French director, Fursy Teyssier.

Produced by creative agency Propaganda, in association with iconic British band, Portishead, Dark Angel is a beautifully haunting rendition of Sophies story.



The aim of the film is to raise awareness of The Sophie Lancaster Foundation and generate money which will be used to help educate young people about tolerance. There was no sane reason for the murder that night and the impact on people around the world is still being felt.

At the conclusion of the trial on 27 March 2008, Brendan Harris was found guilty of murder, and the Judge ordered the names of both Harris and Herbert, concealed during the trial, to be made public. Detective Supt. Mick Gradwell of Lancashire Police said it was one of the most violent murders he had come across in his lengthy career: "I do not think Herbert and Harris have recognised how violent the attack was. They have just done it without thinking, but they seemed to have enjoyed it, and carried on remorselessly kicking at two very defenceless people who were unable to protect themselves because of the level of violence inflicted upon them... I am very critical of some of the parents involved. I really don't think they have taken completely seriously how repulsive this incident was..."

In his closing remarks the judge described the attack as "feral thuggery" which raised serious questions about the "sort of society which exists in this country". He added: "This was a terrible case which has shocked and outraged all who have heard about it. At least wild animals, when they hunt in packs, have a legitimate reason for so doing, to obtain food. You have none and your behaviour on that night degrades humanity itself."

Conservative leader David Cameron mentioned the attack as an example in a "speech criticising youth crime and Britain’s 'real and growing' problem with violence."

At the alternative electronic music festival Infest in Bradford on 26 August 2007, just after Lancaster's death, Ronan Harris of VNV Nation dedicated the song "Illusion" to her and contacted the family to offer his condolences.

A twelve hour long concert in her honour was held on 6 October 2007, at the grounds of Bacup Borough F.C. featuring 10 bands. This included a song written in Sophie's honour.

Since then coverage has mainly been restricted to the local press and the internet, except the funeral which received wider coverage. In February, 2008 The Observer compared the limited amount of coverage the Sophie Lancaster case received to the large amount of coverage worldwide which the media paid to the case of discrimination faced by a Yorkshire goth couple who were thrown off a bus.

Lancaster's family and friends have set up a website in her memory and have decided to use the contributions from well-wishers and these events to set up a special fund to be known as "S.O.P.H.I.E" standing for "Stamp Out Prejudice Hatred and Intolerance Everywhere" aiming to "provide an appropriate memorial; a lasting legacy to raise awareness of the injustice perpetrated against Sophie Lancaster and to work towards a more tolerant, less violent society."

Lancaster's memory was further honoured at the Eccentrik Festival, in North Carolina, "and three more concerts are planned in California, one in Iowa and one in Brisbane, Australia."

A number of gothic gigs and club nights across the UK and Ireland dedicated a night to Lancaster in October and November 2007, including the Whitby Gothic Weekend. A collection of over £3000 was raised from these events to place a memorial bench to her in Whitby. The bench was put in place on Whitby's West Cliff in January 2008. Martin Coles who organized the Whitby bench fund said "Since starting the on-line campaign to raise awareness of the collection I've been contacted by people from all over the world that have been shocked by this, and not just those from the gothic community, I've been talking to goths, bikers, metallers, people from the electro and indie scenes, just about any 'alternative' genre."

The Observer said on 17 February 2008 that the case was one of a "rash of violent attacks targeting punk, goth and metal kids... Sophie Lancaster's case has become a rallying cry for those in the goth scene worried about this upsurge of violence." This discussion of the case has led to an online petition to the Prime Minister "to Widen the definition of 'Hate Crime', to include crimes committed against a person or persons, on the basis of their appearance or subcultural interests" on the 10 Downing Street website. Ade Varney creator of the petition said that goths "get verbal assaults every day, and not just from young people. But now younger teenagers have the mentality of hardened criminals and I definitely sense this violent aspect getting worse... Sophie's death has made people think and I have heard of teenagers, especially girls, modifying the way they dress when they walk through certain areas."

On 13 March 2008 Bizarre magazine launched a "Proud to be Different" campaign in honour of Sophie's death.

The "Sophie Award" has been established as an ongoing prize for innovative and experimental film making at Bacup Film Festival.

On 13 January 2009, it was announced that the Bloodstock Open Air festival were to rename their second stage to The Sophie Lancaster Stage in tribute and to promote the S.O.P.H.I.E. Campaign.

In May 2009 the Justice Minister Jack Straw said while he could not change the law, he could amend the sentencing guidelines to require judges to treat an attack on a member of a subculture as an aggravating factor similar to a racially motivated or homophobic assault when sentencing perpetrators.

Let us Remember

Let us remember that Thanet has more than enough intolerance already and but for grace, good fortune and chance this might have happened here. Let us remember to be vigilant that such a story never happens here.

According to the Sussex University report, however, Goths “are refined and sensitive, keen on poetry and books, not big on drugs or anti-social behaviour.” Says European Conservative site The Brussels Journal. Their curiosity about art, symbols, and things medieval, means that they are also one group in Britain that still finds the imagery, if not the ideas, of Christianity intriguing and appealing. In Cambridge, Reverend Marcus Ramshaw even holds Church services especially for them, and in 2006 he held a service at a popular music festival at the town of Whitby. This in itself would make Goths utterly alternative to the vast majority of British youths, who seem to be descending further and further into a life of despair, acted out in drunkenness and violence.

If TDC and KCC want to see Thanet and particularity Margate become a Mecca for art then just casually accepting that artists might have ideas counter to the average might not be enough. To stand a chance of changing and growing into this new era of arts led tourism (which we might as well give a go now it has been started) we need to find ways to increase our tolerance of others especially when it comes to style.


I have unashamedly use portions of the wikipedia article on this subject where strong citations exist.