Elsie Dot Stancombe was never meant to attend the Taylor Swift-themed dance class that ended in tragedy in Southport last year.
On July 29, 2024, vile child killer Axel Rudakubana, then-17, stormed into the class of innocent young girls with a kitchen knife, slashing and stabbing at everyone in his path.
Seven-year-old Elsie was one of three girls brutally murdered by Rudakubana.
Now Elsie’s mother Jenni Stancombe, 35, has revealed her daughter wasn’t even meant to be at the class and was only there because her caring teacher Leanne Lucas had saved her a place.
When the mother of one of Elsie’s school friends asked if the seven-year-old would be going to the dance workshop, Jenni realised she hadn’t got a ticket and knew it was sold out.
Her daughter was a huge Taylor Swift fan, so her mother messaged Leanne Lucas, the teacher organising the class, to ask if there were any spaces left.
Breaking down in tears, Jenni revealed Leanne’s reply that has haunted her ever since: ‘No problem. I’ll always have a place for Elsie.’
No one could ever have imagined what saving that place would mean or envisaged the utter horror that Rudakubana unleashed on the class of young girls singing songs and making bracelets.
Jenni told The Sunday Times: ‘I just always think if she’d given it away… but then I would never have wished this on anybody else.’
Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, (pictured) was one of the three little girls killed in the Southport attack
Elsie with her mother Jenni, father David and younger sister Rosie, aged three. The photo was released by Elsie’s family on the morning of her funeral in August – which they wanted to be known as ‘Elsie’s Special Day’
Arriving at the dance class, Jenni said she took Elsie upstairs and was greeted by Ms Lucas, who picked up the little girl and embraced her.
Just before midday, Jenni said she got a call from the mother of Elsie’s friend, telling her ‘something awful’ had happened and she needed to come to the scene.
Leaving her house unlocked, Jenni and her husband got in their car, jumping through every read light before abandoning their vehicle in the middle of the road.
At the scene, Elsie’s father David overheard a person saying there had been two fatalities – which later turned out to be three. Elsie died inside the dance studio.
Elsie never wanted her parents to be alone, always offering to come along to the shops or take the bins out with her father, even during iPad time on a Friday – a special treat.
The seven-year-old’s mother said she was always extremely cautious when it came to Elsie’s safety, refusing to take risks or put her in any danger.
She would be uncomfortable about letting her child ride to school on a scooter in case she hurt herself, and cut her food into tiny bits out of fear.
Bebe King, six (pictured) was also killed in the Southport stabbings in July last year
Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, (pictured) was one of three little girls killed by Rudakubana
Alice is pictured next to a cardboard cut-out of Taylor Swift on the day of the attack
Axel Rudakubana (pictured) stormed into the class of innocent young girls with a kitchen knife, slashing and stabbing at everyone in his path
Bebe’s grieving parents also spoke to The Sunday Times, telling how they were able to say goodbye to their little girl before the funeral using Alder Hey hospital’s bereavement suite.
The couple spent a week with Bebe, who was wearing pyjamas, while the room was softly lit by night lights – as if she was asleep.
The parents said they were able to hold her hand, have family say goodbye to her, and even had Bebe christened – something they had wanted to do for several years.
Following the attack the grieving families have taken comfort in the support of the royal family – with the Princess of Wales visiting them in her first public engagement since finishing chemotherapy.
Bebe’s father said Catherine’s visit meant a great deal to them, and the Princess delivered a ‘powerful’ message which gave them comfort.
The harrowing attack triggered months of riots in the summer of 2024, including in major cities such as Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and London.
The Prime Minister condemned ‘far-right thuggery’ as police clashed with protesters in the wake of the tragedy.
By December last year, more than 400 people had been sentenced for offences relating to the disorder.
