A 15-year-old boy has been sentenced for stabbing a fellow student at school during their lunch break.

The boy and the victim, neither of whom can be named because of their ages, were initially friends, but the friendship deteriorated.  

On the day of the stabbing, the defendant took two knives into school with him, determined to attack the victim. During their lunch break, he accused the victim of betraying him and stabbed him in the abdomen in front of a number of other children.  

The boy tried to run away by climbing a fence but was arrested while still on the school grounds. He pleaded guilty at Nottingham Crown Court on 27 May to wounding with intent and two counts of having an article with a blade or point. He was today, 28 August, sentenced to 5 years and 7 months’ imprisonment.

Samantha Shallow from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “This young defendant was determined to take knives into a school to do serious harm to another student. He showed no reservations about attacking a fellow student in front of classmates and younger students.  

“This attack in broad daylight in a school sent shock waves through our community, but our thoughts are with the victim, who suffered terrible injuries at the hands of his former friend.”

Building the case

The case put together by the prosecution was to prove his intent and determination to carry out the attack to give the court the appropriate sentencing powers to deal effectively with such a grave crime.

The CPS presented evidence at the boy’s sentencing hearing about his repeated threats of violence towards others. Evidence from his phone showed him discussing threats and violence towards people he perceived had slighted him or had betrayed him to other violent individuals.  

The prosecution also showed the court that he had made attempts to purchase knives that are only associated with violence, including zombie and Rambo knives.

All this built a picture of a young man fixated with and determined to commit acts of violence.