UK Teen Receives Referral Order for Stabbing Classmate After Rejection

A 14-year-old boy has been handed a 12-month referral order and a three-year restraining order for a knife attack on a female classmate. The boy, whose identity is protected by law, attacked the girl in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, on March 15 after she had rejected his advances.

Appearing at Bristol Crown Court, the boy pleaded guilty to wounding with intent, inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent, and possession of a bladed article. Harrowing CCTV footage captured the moment the boy calmly approached the girl and repeatedly stabbed her. A shopkeeper intervened, attempting to pull the assailant away, but was also struck with the knife.

Footage later showed the girl fleeing through the store as the boy pursued her with the weapon. She eventually escaped and sought help from a nearby property. The girl sustained cuts to her neck, hands, and face, along with bruising to her back. The boy fled the scene but was apprehended by Gloucestershire Police shortly after, with a knife found in his pocket.

The court heard that the boy had become fixated on the girl at their school. Following her rejection of his advances in December 2025, he began sending her messages using fake social media accounts.

In a statement read to the court, the victim described ongoing fear and anxiety, stating, "I'm scared and nervous anywhere that I go." She added, "Even if someone puts their hand up next to me I flinch as I don't know what they are about to do to me." The experience has impacted her sleep, causing nightmares where she "relives the incident," and has eroded her trust in others.

Detective Superintendent Ian Fletcher, Head of Serious and Complex Investigations, described the incident as a "frenzied attack that took place in broad daylight." He noted the victim's extreme luck in sustaining only minor injuries, stating, "We could easily have been looking at a fatal incident if that knife had pierced her anywhere else." Fletcher expressed hope that the victim can now begin to recover from the traumatic events.