POLICE are investigating a video appearing to show a young girl "screaming in terror" as she is pinned down while having her ears pierced in a shop.
The distressed child is seen struggling in the footage recorded at jewellery store Lovisa in Meadowhall Shopping Centre, Sheffield, South Yorkshire.
A woman appears to pin the little girl's ears back as a staff member approaches with a piercing gun, to which the seemingly terrified child pleads: "No! No!"
An adult man and woman then both appear to hold her still while the girl attempts to break free as the piercing gun is applied to her earlobe.
The couple then change position with the woman holding the girl’s head as the second lobe is pierced.
All the time the girl is heard screaming “Ow. Ow. Get off. Get off me.”
The clip left viewers outraged after it was filmed by a bystander on Sunday afternoon.
A woman who shared the clip online wrote: "Meadowhall – absolutely disgusting behaviour from your staff yesterday afternoon in your Lovisa store.
"Advising grandmother and mother of a young girl how to restrain her and hold her down so they could pierce her ears despite her screaming and pleading.
"The poor child fought until she ended up on the ground. Your staff should have refused to be part of this.
"This is abuse. Thankfully, my 14-year-old daughter recorded this as evidence upon hearing me state I was reporting them.
"To this girl’s family – you should be ashamed. This child’s voice is valid. It should have been heard. It should have been respected."
The mum who posted the video claimed the 30-second clip was "just a fraction" of the girl’s ordeal, which she says lasted for ten minutes.
South Yorkshire Police said they are carrying out enquiries into the incident.
"CONCERNING"
PC Craig Crew of the Meadowhall policing team said: “We have watched this footage and understand why many viewers find it concerning.
"My team and I are now carrying out enquiries with the staff at the store to understand the full circumstances of what happened.
“I am really keen to trace the owner of the footage, so if this is you, or you know who it is, please get in touch.
"Please call 101 quoting incident number 1009 of 18 October if you can help. You can also contact us on live chat, or our new online portal."
A spokesperson for Meadowhall said: "Our team picked this up with Lovisa as soon as the footage was brought to our attention, and we are working closely with both Lovisa and the police."
Source: Read Full Article