Colchester teenager sentenced for stabbing at Gilberd School

The 15-year-old was seen loitering around the Gilberd School premises on the afternoon of Monday, October 9 as his victim headed towards the school building accompanied by a teacher.

When the victim and the teacher walked by, the boy pulled out a knife and attempted to stab his victim from behind.

The teacher managed to intervene and remove the knife from the teenager, which injured his victim but did not cause serious bodily injury.

Sentenced – teenager appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on Tuesday (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

The child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday and admitted wounding with intent and carrying a knife onto school premises.

Peter Clark, prosecuting, read a victim impact statement on behalf of the victim's mother, who told how she discovered her son had been a victim of the attack.

The statement read: “The victim's mother received a phone call from the school and was told there had been an incident, but nothing further was said.

“She arrived and saw police cars at the school and knew something horrible had happened: she was escorted down the hall and told her son had been stabbed.”

A statement written by the victim said: “Since I was stabbed, I have been afraid that other boys have weapons to hurt me.

“I don’t make friends that easily. If I leave the house and see people I don't know, I worry.

“I’m a victim and I don’t want people to know that.”

Incident – ​​teenager brandished knife at Gilberd School in Colchester (Image: Newsquest)

His Honor Judge Martyn Levett KC sentenced the teenager to an 18-month youth rehabilitation order and imposed a five-year restraining order which prevented him from contacting the victim and her family.

He is also banned from entering Gilberd School – which was rated outstanding in its last Ofsted inspection in 2019 – and Brinkley Lane, Colchester.

His Honor Judge Levett said the law prevented him from imposing a harsher sentence.

He said: “My hands are tied by the wisdom of the sentencing advisor – I am unable to impose a sentence that the public can view as reflective of the offense because of the guidelines and of Parliament. »