A TEENAGE boy who was being bullied attacked a Malvern teacher with a knife after waking up with the intention of harming the first person he saw, a court heard.
The 13-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Worcester Youth Court having previously pleaded guilty to maliciously wounding, assault causing ABH, threatening a person with a knife in a public place and possession of knives in a public place.
On the morning of Monday, September 8, the boy packed a bag for school which included a selection of kitchen knives, spare trainers and £25, the court heard.
When he got there he burst into a classroom with his face covered by a scarf and brandishing a six-inch knife. He slashed it up to 15 times towards the teacher, who had to use a ring-bound register to defend himself, but still sustained an injury to his thumb.
The youth then ran out of the room and in the process the knife he was wielding caught a fellow pupil in the face and caused a small cut to her eye, however it was accepted this was an accident by the prosecution. The attack was witnessed by 32 children.
Counsel Mr Sharman, defending, said on the Thursday and Friday prior to the incident the boy had been pushed about, tripped over, had things thrown at him and had his face pushed towards dog faeces.
“This is not only a very difficult case but it is a very sad case because it reflects the extreme effects bullying can have on someone,” he said.
“He thought if he had knives people would back off and stop being mean to him were his words.
“But there are a number of positive aspects to his life, he is a bright pupil and someone who enjoys the school environment and excels in that.
“He knows full well what he has done and he is ashamed of what he has done and will not repeat it. With the right support he will go on to have a bright future.”
The boy was given a 12-month intensive referral order which included anger management, problem solving, consequential thinking and victim impact and empathy.
It also included an exclusion period around the site of the attack and a three-month curfew from 10pm to 7am. The sentence will now be taken to a youth offender panel for approval.
Each victim was also awarded £75 compensation and a forfeiture and destruction act was ordered for the knives.
