Brianna Ghey murder: Who are Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe?

Now, Brianna Ghey’s killers can be named as Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe.

The pair had been protected by reporting restrictions due to their age since being charged with murder back in February last year.

However, now they have been convicted of murder and sentenced, and following a successful application by the press, reporting restrictions were removed by trial judge Justice Amanda Yip.

During a sentencing hearing at Manchester Crown Court today, Friday, both were handed life sentences, with Jenkinson to serve a minimum of 22 years and Ratcliffe a minimum of 20.

But who are 16-year-olds Jenkinson and Ratcliffe?

Starting with the former, Jenkinson is from Culcheth and met Brianna in November 2022 after enrolling at Birchwood High School.

It can now be revealed, confirmed by the police during a press conference, that Jenkinson was previously moved from Culcheth High School for passing cannabis drug sweets to another child.

Cheshire Police was made aware of the incident on September 27, 2022, with the person to whom the sweet was passed becoming unwell, and the incident was recorded as a spiking.

An 11-year-old Eddie Ratcliffe during his world kickboxing championship (Image: Stephensons Solicitors/PA)

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: “The matter was reviewed and the victim's family spoken to.

“They did not support further police action so the matter was passed to the school to provide ongoing support.”

Jenkinson and Ratcliffe had known each other since the age of 11, having met at Culcheth High, with the latter living in Leigh.

One of the most alarming features of the case was the seemingly normal backgrounds both defendants come from.

Both have no previous convictions, cautions or reprimand of any kind on their record, the trial heard.

Moreover, both of Jenkinson’s parents are in the education sector, it is believed, while Ratcliffe’s mother is a graphic designer and ski instructor, and his father the manager of a transport company, the trial heard.

Another point is that both were described by police as ‘bright and intelligent kids’.

Jenkinson is believed to have passed her GCSEs, while the court heard Ratcliffe passed eight GCSEs at his secure youth accommodation unit.

The trial heard Ratcliffe’s favourite subject in school was science, and that he wanted to go to university to study microbiology.

An 11-year-old Eddie Ratcliffe during his world kickboxing championship (Image: Stephensons Solicitors/PA)

It was also said during proceedings that he has self-taught A-levels in physics, biology, chemistry, pure maths and English literature at his secure accommodation.

Since his arrest, Ratcliffe has been formally diagnosed with autism, autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), while Jenkinson was said to have traits of autism and ADHD.

Although he has good understanding of language, Ratcliffe has stopped speaking to anyone except his mother since his police interviews, and he has since also been diagnosed with selective mutism.

It is described as selective, but it is not a manner of choice and is beyond personal control, the trial heard.

Another interesting line during the trial, which was not reported due to the reporting restriction, was that Jenkinson had Ratcliffe saved as a contact of hers as ‘Tesco John Wick’.

It was claimed this was due to him posing a resemblance to Keanu Reaves – the actor who plays the assassin in the film trilogy and who also has long brown hair and a beard – rather than a reference to Ratcliffe being an assassin, the trial heard.

During cross-examination, it was also revealed that Ratcliffe was a keen kickboxer and took part in world championships in Jamaica in 2018, having qualified through qualifying rounds.

When examined by his barrister, Ratcliffe confirmed he had one bout during the tournament, which he lost, aged 11 at the time.