Ashleigh Hall's murder inspires safety film

Sep 29 2010 by Sara Nichol, The Journal

YOUNG people from the hometown of North East murder victim Ashleigh Hall have helped create a hard-hitting film highlighting the hidden dangers of the internet.

Seventeen-year-old Ashleigh was killed after meeting the predatory sex offender Peter Chapman on the social networking site Facebook.

Shocked and appalled by her tragic death, youngsters from secondary schools and colleges in Darlington, County Durham, came together to work on a film-making project to raise awareness of the dangers of the internet for children and teenagers.

Following the online exploits of the fictional character Chloe – played by local girl Jade Burrows – the 15-minute film centres around the online activities and choices that many teenagers make and deal with on an everyday basis.

Written, acted and directed by industry professionals, Choices.... A Click Too Far was completed earlier this year.

The pupils involved have been congratulated on sharing their ideas and guiding the writer on the type of “internet” language in common use.

Chapman, 33, was jailed for a minimum of 35 years in March for the kidnap, rape and murder of childcare student Ashleigh.

Now the film, dedicated to Ashleigh’s memory, is being used to educate and advise people across the county.