Girl screams ‘get off’ as she’s pinned down to have her ears pierced

The child visibly did not want the piercings (Picture: Ben Lack/YappApp)

Police are investigating after a young girl’s ears were pierced in Sheffield as numerous adults restrained her on the ground.

A video taken at jewellery shop Lovisa in Meadowhall shopping centre on Sunday shows her screaming ‘get off me’ and thrashing at those pinning her down.

Wearing blue disposable gloves, a woman can be seen approaching the girl with a piercing gun as she pleads ‘no, no’.

She leans over and appears to pierce one of her earlobes.

As the clip continues, the child appears to calm down before the suspected member of staff returns to pierce her second lobe.

But she starts crying again when the woman says ‘all done’ to signal the procedure was completed.

The brief clip was filmed by a 14-year-old girl and shared online by her mum, who said the whole incident lasted about 10 minutes.

She said: ‘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 a part of this.

‘This is abuse. Thankfully, my daughter recorded this as evidence upon hearing me state I was reporting them.

Four adults were involved in the procedure (Picture: Ben Lack/YappApp)

‘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.’ 

A spokesperson for Lovisa said: ‘We are reviewing the details of what happened in our Meadowhall store on Sunday, October 17.

‘We take these matters very seriously. In order to protect the privacy and health and safety of our team and customers we refrain from further comment at this time.’

South Yorkshire Police constable Craig Crew said he empathised with viewers who found the footage ‘concerning’.

He urged the owner of the video to get in touch.

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.’

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