Teenagers told woman to jump from Worthing building (From The Argus)
Get involved: Send your news, views, pictures and video by texting SUPIC to 80360 or email us.
Teenagers told woman to jump from Worthing building
10:04am Tuesday 16th March 2010 in
Callous teenagers urged a distressed woman to jump from the top of a multistorey car park.
Crowds formed beneath the woman after she climbed over safety railings 150ft up on the top floor of Teville Gate car park in Worthing at about 2pm yesterday.
But as police and firefighters arrived at the scene, a group of half a dozen teenage boys began jeering and chanting jump.
Police negotiators managed to coax the woman back over the railings and condemned the boys insensitive taunts.
One onlooker said: "There was a big group of people. Everyone was looking up to see what was happening then this big group of kids were shouting jump, jump, jump. It was quite sickening.
"There were at least six of them, all boys, probably about 13 or 14-years-old, all the sort of age where they should have been at school."
Suicide charities condemned the youngsters actions as irresponsible and dangerous.
The Samaritans said the thoughtless jibes could have cost the woman her life.
A spokeswoman said: "It is a sad fact that people who feel suicidal sometimes find their feelings can be dismissed or even mocked by people around them.
"When someone expresses thoughts or feelings of suicide these should always be taken seriously. The myth that such things are merely cries for help is misguided and unhelpful and undoubtedly costs lives."
Comments(60)
cheezburger
says...
10:09am Tue 16 Mar 10
Tammy Flugh
says...
10:23am Tue 16 Mar 10
cheezburger wrote:I don't think any police were breached.
The police could have arrested them for a breach of the police surely? And add truancy to that as well.
jon s
says...
10:39am Tue 16 Mar 10
cheezburger wrote:It's good to read your comment before you post it.But,there would be too much paperwork for the cops,that's why they probably didn't arrest them.
The police could have arrested them for a breach of the police surely? And add truancy to that as well.
cheezburger
says...
10:43am Tue 16 Mar 10
neil466
says...
10:56am Tue 16 Mar 10
cheezburger wrote:"breach of the police surely " is one of the most disgusting crimes in today's society,often goes unreported ,& can on occasion ruin people's lives especially when there trying to get on with there sponsored absailing .When will the government take action .Another example of Broken Britain.
The police could have arrested them for a breach of the police surely? And add truancy to that as well.
Andy R
says...
11:15am Tue 16 Mar 10
g1mp
says...
11:16am Tue 16 Mar 10
jon s wrote:Actually, there is no paperwork for a breach of the peace arrest.
cheezburger wrote: The police could have arrested them for a breach of the police surely? And add truancy to that as well.It's good to read your comment before you post it.But,there would be too much paperwork for the cops,that's why they probably didn't arrest them.
kingruss
says...
11:39am Tue 16 Mar 10
Redbeard
says...
11:41am Tue 16 Mar 10
Brightonscouse2
says...
11:47am Tue 16 Mar 10
garyc
says...
12:38pm Tue 16 Mar 10
Brightonscouse2 wrote:durrington high school had an inset day yesterday,they probably go there to school when its open!How ridiculous to have an inset day on a monday
If the kids were allegedly aged about 14-16 why didn't the police look into why they weren't at school?
Hope this lady is ok
davyboy
says...
1:23pm Tue 16 Mar 10
garyc wrote:inset days have to be held during school terms. therefore, the kids will get days off. i think there are supposed to be 5 inset days per school year, which cannot intrude into teachers holiday periods. they can be added to holiday times, as extra days off though. these kids were insensitive, to say the least, as this poor lady was already in a fragile state of mind.
Brightonscouse2 wrote:durrington high school had an inset day yesterday,they probably go there to school when its open!How ridiculous to have an inset day on a monday
If the kids were allegedly aged about 14-16 why didn't the police look into why they weren't at school?
Hope this lady is ok
Ming
says...
1:43pm Tue 16 Mar 10
Ming
says...
1:44pm Tue 16 Mar 10
qm
says...
2:23pm Tue 16 Mar 10
cheezburger wrote:The fact that no action was taken surely implies that the police have already been breached??
The police could have arrested them for a breach of the police surely? And add truancy to that as well.
happymonkey9
says...
2:39pm Tue 16 Mar 10
kingruss wrote:You're a narrow minded baboon. If this woman was distressed or not in the right frame of mind then it is unlikely she would have gone through the same thought processes you have done. Her decision could have easily been on the spur of the moment. This wasn't in front of a train. You're as bad as the youths taunting her. This shows what a sad state of affairs our society can be. Shame on you.
Personally I don't think the boys should be reprimanded, you either want to kill yourself or you don't, If you don't then you shouldn't hang around on roofs of car parks beyond the safety barriers. If you do want to kill yourself then don't be so bloody selfish and do it in private NOT in front of a train or off a building.
southwicker
says...
2:43pm Tue 16 Mar 10
kingruss
says...
3:07pm Tue 16 Mar 10
happymonkey9 wrote:I'm not ashamed of what I have said, nor am I a baboon. What a sad state of affairs it is when people like you show sympathy to people who are commiting selfish acts that have an impact on other people going about their business. In fact, it's the sympathy people like you show that probably led to her 'cry for help' - knowing she would get preferential treatment. ever been stuck miles away from home in the snow because some idiot has jumped in front of a train?
kingruss wrote: Personally I don't think the boys should be reprimanded, you either want to kill yourself or you don't, If you don't then you shouldn't hang around on roofs of car parks beyond the safety barriers. If you do want to kill yourself then don't be so bloody selfish and do it in private NOT in front of a train or off a building.You're a narrow minded baboon. If this woman was distressed or not in the right frame of mind then it is unlikely she would have gone through the same thought processes you have done. Her decision could have easily been on the spur of the moment. This wasn't in front of a train. You're as bad as the youths taunting her. This shows what a sad state of affairs our society can be. Shame on you.
Ming
says...
3:20pm Tue 16 Mar 10
pat of worthing
says...
3:23pm Tue 16 Mar 10
Carl Bugenhagen
says...
3:35pm Tue 16 Mar 10
Hong Kong Futon
says...
3:40pm Tue 16 Mar 10
kingruss
says...
3:57pm Tue 16 Mar 10
Hong Kong Futon wrote:why should I think or care about the friends and families of these people though? the person in question clearly hasn't. My grasp of mental health issues is fine, whether or not I care about the problems of people I don't know is another thing. It may be callous and naive but it is also a fact - do you want to kill yourself? it's either yes or no.
Kingruss you may or may not be a baboon but your grasp of mental health issues is worrying and typifies the “I’m alright Jack” undertone our society now has. Yes, I’ve been stuck at Victoria twice in the last year: on one occasion I had to get three different trains, the other a coach and I’ll freely admit to thinking briefly “that’s all I need” – I’m human after all - but the bottom line was that my predicament was short-term and temporary unlike the one the friends and familes were facing, and the individual before that. To say that “you either want to kill yourself or you don’t” is beyond naïve, callous, and I’m pleased we’re not acquainted.
Eyes On The 3rd Floor
says...
4:10pm Tue 16 Mar 10
As far as I saw, the majority of the 'facts' above never even occurred.
The 'crowd' consisted of about 4 people who were standing outside Comet looking when the fire engine turned up, none of which were teenagers.
In terms of police negotiation, I saw the woman climb back over the railings to sit down after standing there for around 10 mins and as soon as the police got to the top floor she made a dash for the railings again before she was grabbed.
She wasn't even on the edge when the police got to her!
John Steed
says...
5:00pm Tue 16 Mar 10
a charming song on a derek and clive album, Highly recommended
stan bailey
says...
5:09pm Tue 16 Mar 10
g1mp
says...
5:13pm Tue 16 Mar 10
kkj
says...
5:39pm Tue 16 Mar 10
kingruss wrote:You're calling this woman selfish for what she did, yet, from reading the rest of your posts here, you appear to be just as selfish, if not more so. Stuck miles away from home in the snow? Priceless.
Personally I don't think the boys should be reprimanded, you either want to kill yourself or you don't, If you don't then you shouldn't hang around on roofs of car parks beyond the safety barriers. If you do want to kill yourself then don't be so bloody selfish and do it in private NOT in front of a train or off a building.
another village idiot
says...
5:45pm Tue 16 Mar 10
kingruss
says...
5:52pm Tue 16 Mar 10
kkj wrote:I am selfish, it's a dog eat dog world and you need to look after number 1. BUT if I was going to do something like that I would ensure my actions didn't stop normal people going about their business.
kingruss wrote: Personally I don't think the boys should be reprimanded, you either want to kill yourself or you don't, If you don't then you shouldn't hang around on roofs of car parks beyond the safety barriers. If you do want to kill yourself then don't be so bloody selfish and do it in private NOT in front of a train or off a building.You're calling this woman selfish for what she did, yet, from reading the rest of your posts here, you appear to be just as selfish, if not more so. Stuck miles away from home in the snow? Priceless.
kingruss
says...
5:56pm Tue 16 Mar 10
another village idiot wrote:If ever a name corresponded with it's owner eh? Nice try at word play there but the post is irrelevant due to you being a retard.
Kingruss is clearly not a baboon, and if you are, get the moderator to nudge a reporter to get round there quick there could be a big scoop. Kingruss is obviously a 'baffoon', because when you want to kill yourself you are so low you don't think about the mess, just wanting to end it all. Not very sympathetic Russ.
kkj
says...
5:57pm Tue 16 Mar 10
kingruss wrote:So its OK for you to be selfish but not anybody else?
kkj wrote:I am selfish, it's a dog eat dog world and you need to look after number 1. BUT if I was going to do something like that I would ensure my actions didn't stop normal people going about their business.kingruss wrote: Personally I don't think the boys should be reprimanded, you either want to kill yourself or you don't, If you don't then you shouldn't hang around on roofs of car parks beyond the safety barriers. If you do want to kill yourself then don't be so bloody selfish and do it in private NOT in front of a train or off a building.You're calling this woman selfish for what she did, yet, from reading the rest of your posts here, you appear to be just as selfish, if not more so. Stuck miles away from home in the snow? Priceless.
lozzashaw
says...
6:03pm Tue 16 Mar 10
yorkie44
says...
6:04pm Tue 16 Mar 10
kingruss
says...
6:15pm Tue 16 Mar 10
kkj wrote:Do I go around hanging off buildings? NO, do I waste emergency services time? NO, do my actions affect innocent people? NO. So aslong as what I do doesn't have an impact on or prevent people from doing things then I (and anyone) has a right to be selfish.
kingruss wrote:So its OK for you to be selfish but not anybody else?kkj wrote:I am selfish, it's a dog eat dog world and you need to look after number 1. BUT if I was going to do something like that I would ensure my actions didn't stop normal people going about their business.kingruss wrote: Personally I don't think the boys should be reprimanded, you either want to kill yourself or you don't, If you don't then you shouldn't hang around on roofs of car parks beyond the safety barriers. If you do want to kill yourself then don't be so bloody selfish and do it in private NOT in front of a train or off a building.You're calling this woman selfish for what she did, yet, from reading the rest of your posts here, you appear to be just as selfish, if not more so. Stuck miles away from home in the snow? Priceless.
lozzashaw
says...
6:30pm Tue 16 Mar 10
lozzashaw
says...
6:35pm Tue 16 Mar 10
lozzashaw wrote:It should be commended that your actions never affect anyone else, lets just hope you never suffer from depression and some 'selfless' person comes to your rescue!
karma!
Juan Albion
says...
7:03pm Tue 16 Mar 10
lozzashaw
says...
7:07pm Tue 16 Mar 10
kkj
says...
7:21pm Tue 16 Mar 10
kingruss wrote:I don't intend entering intyo an extended debate, but from your previous post about getting stuck in the snow, its pretty obvious that you expect everybody else to fit in with what you want.
kkj wrote:Do I go around hanging off buildings? NO, do I waste emergency services time? NO, do my actions affect innocent people? NO. So aslong as what I do doesn't have an impact on or prevent people from doing things then I (and anyone) has a right to be selfish.kingruss wrote:So its OK for you to be selfish but not anybody else?kkj wrote:I am selfish, it's a dog eat dog world and you need to look after number 1. BUT if I was going to do something like that I would ensure my actions didn't stop normal people going about their business.kingruss wrote: Personally I don't think the boys should be reprimanded, you either want to kill yourself or you don't, If you don't then you shouldn't hang around on roofs of car parks beyond the safety barriers. If you do want to kill yourself then don't be so bloody selfish and do it in private NOT in front of a train or off a building.You're calling this woman selfish for what she did, yet, from reading the rest of your posts here, you appear to be just as selfish, if not more so. Stuck miles away from home in the snow? Priceless.
'
You are either extremely young, or extremely immature, I'm not sure which.
Lil
says...
7:49pm Tue 16 Mar 10
In the meantime it's this saddening attitude to social responsibility that is driving up instances of mental illness and isolating people to a certain extent that some people feel they have to do such audacious things to be noticed, because everyone else in life is busy thinking about themselves and their world, rather than showing concern for those around us, our neighbours, friends and family.
It's this continued attitude which will continue the stigma of mental illness.
A little more care and compassion for your fellow man or woman would do a lot to prevent these kinds of things even happening in the first place. It would solve more than any government or charity could resolve by legislation or goodwill.
dogs-ball
says...
9:58pm Tue 16 Mar 10
I am 45 and from Brighton. Some of my worst early memories are when close family members died. They were either put on a table in the family home in an open casket, or we went to say goodbye in a funeral parlour and had to give the deceased a kiss good bye on a very cold cheek... Times have changed - how many teenagers today have seen a dead body or relative? Some police authorities are of the opinion that in circumstances such as teen crime that a proventative tactic is to take teens to a mortury to see a real dead body as opposed to one on an Xbox game etc...
Acheron
says...
10:06pm Tue 16 Mar 10
May I please point out to Kingruss that a lot of his issues with people thinking about suicide are null and void. To keep referring to people in a 'right state of mind' automatically nullifies what's being said. People committing suicide tend not to be in a right state of mind.
Secondly, about the 'looking after no1' issue. I assume given this is your point of view you have no issues with any of the bankers who have screwed the contry financially, or the MPs who have greased thier pockets on expenses. After all, they were looking after number 1 without a care in the world about others.
You are, of course welcome to be selfish (we all are in some respects), but the degree to which you wish to promote selfishness would not be a society I'd like to live in!
TheInsider
says...
10:09pm Tue 16 Mar 10
Only today I saw a group of them coming out of school with cans of beer and cigarettes in hand and one of them snarled at me: What are you looking at.
What I was looking at was the most unusual spotty faced kids, with terribly rotten teeth, swigging from cans like old alkies from a desolate northern town.
It was like an episode of Shameless and they looked like something from Deliverance.
Why is Worthing like this?
dogs-ball
says...
10:22pm Tue 16 Mar 10
TheInsider wrote:You should thank your lucky stars you live in Worthing! We live in East Brighton - You look at a Whitehawk kid in 'that way', they add 'we know where you live' ... and the probably do... (pass word: cell-what) lol!
Unfortunately, there seems to be a large number of 'inbred' children in Worthing.
Only today I saw a group of them coming out of school with cans of beer and cigarettes in hand and one of them snarled at me: What are you looking at.
What I was looking at was the most unusual spotty faced kids, with terribly rotten teeth, swigging from cans like old alkies from a desolate northern town.
It was like an episode of Shameless and they looked like something from Deliverance.
Why is Worthing like this?
TheInsider
says...
10:30pm Tue 16 Mar 10
Why haven't teenagers got decent teeth or a pair of trousers between them?
They looked absolutely poverty stricken and as if they had arrived from Sangatte.
davyboy
says...
10:37pm Tue 16 Mar 10
TheInsider wrote:that is a little unfair on northern towns. these scenes are repeated in southern ones too. what i can't understand is why, if the police were in attendance and heard what the kids said, these yobs weren't either spoken to or arrested.
Unfortunately, there seems to be a large number of 'inbred' children in Worthing.
Only today I saw a group of them coming out of school with cans of beer and cigarettes in hand and one of them snarled at me: What are you looking at.
What I was looking at was the most unusual spotty faced kids, with terribly rotten teeth, swigging from cans like old alkies from a desolate northern town.
It was like an episode of Shameless and they looked like something from Deliverance.
Why is Worthing like this?
Skippah
says...
10:38pm Tue 16 Mar 10
kingruss wrote:Either you are trying to get reactions or you are a complete idiot.
kkj wrote:Do I go around hanging off buildings? NO, do I waste emergency services time? NO, do my actions affect innocent people? NO. So aslong as what I do doesn't have an impact on or prevent people from doing things then I (and anyone) has a right to be selfish.
kingruss wrote:So its OK for you to be selfish but not anybody else?kkj wrote:I am selfish, it's a dog eat dog world and you need to look after number 1. BUT if I was going to do something like that I would ensure my actions didn't stop normal people going about their business.kingruss wrote: Personally I don't think the boys should be reprimanded, you either want to kill yourself or you don't, If you don't then you shouldn't hang around on roofs of car parks beyond the safety barriers. If you do want to kill yourself then don't be so bloody selfish and do it in private NOT in front of a train or off a building.You're calling this woman selfish for what she did, yet, from reading the rest of your posts here, you appear to be just as selfish, if not more so. Stuck miles away from home in the snow? Priceless.
dogs-ball
says...
10:44pm Tue 16 Mar 10
jon s
says...
10:45pm Tue 16 Mar 10
g1mp wrote:How can a charge of breach of the peace be made and not generate any paperwork?Public order offence,no?
jon s wrote:Actually, there is no paperwork for a breach of the peace arrest.cheezburger wrote: The police could have arrested them for a breach of the police surely? And add truancy to that as well.It's good to read your comment before you post it.But,there would be too much paperwork for the cops,that's why they probably didn't arrest them.
TheInsider
says...
10:45pm Tue 16 Mar 10
dogs-ball
says...
11:06pm Tue 16 Mar 10
Darling2
says...
1:07am Wed 17 Mar 10
yorkie44 wrote:Far too busy harrassing photographers disguised as terrorists to deal with any reports of actual crimes.
Probably the police didn't do anything about the boys because they hadn't received a report to say that there was a problem!
There was a report of a drunk driver last year, after crashing into a mother pushing her buggy on Lewes Road, being dragged from his car and summary justice was dispensed. People have to look after their own communities as above.
Like the bankers, the police are redundant, so why are we still paying for fat b4stards to eat doghnuts? Police>? Cant afford them, dont need them.
BringBackGoodGrammar
says...
3:20am Wed 17 Mar 10
dogs-ball wrote:Who is Max Gifford?
It's worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster - may even win a Oscar - don't let that Lady speak to anyone 'till she's got an agent - maybe Max Gifford - maybe not... security: best-play it is really really is - must be an omen.
Comment Sense
says...
7:56am Wed 17 Mar 10
BringBackGoodGrammar wrote:According to Google, Max Gifford was a retired Master Sergeant with the US Army who passed away in February aged 88. Sounds like a decent man but no sign from his obituary that he'd be any good as a Hollywood agent. Do you think dogs-ball meant Max Clifford?
dogs-ball wrote: It's worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster - may even win a Oscar - don't let that Lady speak to anyone 'till she's got an agent - maybe Max Gifford - maybe not... security: best-play it is really really is - must be an omen.Who is Max Gifford?
kingruss
says...
12:32pm Wed 17 Mar 10
kkj wrote:I don't expect anything from anyone. All I expect is to be able to do what I want without causing problems to other people and I expect not to be disrupted by idiots
kingruss wrote:I don't intend entering intyo an extended debate, but from your previous post about getting stuck in the snow, its pretty obvious that you expect everybody else to fit in with what you want. ' You are either extremely young, or extremely immature, I'm not sure which.kkj wrote:Do I go around hanging off buildings? NO, do I waste emergency services time? NO, do my actions affect innocent people? NO. So aslong as what I do doesn't have an impact on or prevent people from doing things then I (and anyone) has a right to be selfish.kingruss wrote:So its OK for you to be selfish but not anybody else?kkj wrote:I am selfish, it's a dog eat dog world and you need to look after number 1. BUT if I was going to do something like that I would ensure my actions didn't stop normal people going about their business.kingruss wrote: Personally I don't think the boys should be reprimanded, you either want to kill yourself or you don't, If you don't then you shouldn't hang around on roofs of car parks beyond the safety barriers. If you do want to kill yourself then don't be so bloody selfish and do it in private NOT in front of a train or off a building.You're calling this woman selfish for what she did, yet, from reading the rest of your posts here, you appear to be just as selfish, if not more so. Stuck miles away from home in the snow? Priceless.
southwicker
says...
1:32pm Wed 17 Mar 10
if that woman had jumped in front of those kids or people could you imagine how traumatised these people would have been ..
Truth B. Told
says...
3:14pm Sat 20 Mar 10
If I want fairy tales I don't need the Argus for that... Hope the editor-in-chief has a word with Ms. Walker...
Old Ladys Gin
says...
8:19pm Sat 20 Mar 10
TheInsider wrote:The general nickname for Worthing hereabouts is 'A holding pen for the Jeremy Kylle show'
I live in Brighton and I have seen the kids from the Scoomb and the Hawk and I am not joking, even those kids were nothing like the Worthing gang I saw today.
Why haven't teenagers got decent teeth or a pair of trousers between them?
They looked absolutely poverty stricken and as if they had arrived from Sangatte.
More News stories
- Tax credit changes hit poor families
- Airport ready for passenger numbers to soar
- Breastfeeding gets support
- Cycling safety bid in memory of Hove teacher
- Uncertain future for Southlands Hospital
- Busy Brighton street to close to traffic
- Fans arrested after trouble breaks out at Albion v Millwall game
- Pregnant woman twice turned away from hospital
- Defiant council bosses to ignore pay call
- Brighton grocery closes with loss of 15 jobs
Teenagers told woman to jump from Worthing building
Most popular
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
says...