15-year-old boy found guilty of attempted murder after stabbing teenage girl in Hessle last year

A 15-year-old boy who left a 14-year-old girl with life threatening injuries after brutally stabbing her multiple times in a targeted attack in Hessle last November has been found guilty of attempted murder.

The teenage boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with attempted murder and possession of a bladed article following the attack.

Appearing at Hull Crown Court on 3rd March, the teenager entered a not guilty plea to attempted murder however, pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm and possession of a bladed article.

A six-day trial commenced and a jury returned a verdict finding the teenage boy guilty of attempted murder.

On 1st November last year, a teenage girl appeared at the side of the A63 in Hessle with multiple injuries asking for help from motorists.

Assisted by members of the public, the girl explained she had been stabbed and named the teenage boy who was 14-years-old at the time.

The motorist immediately reported the incident to police at 6:50am and when officers arrived at the scene, they discovered the girl had sustained lacerations to her neck, abdomen, chest and back.

She was subsequently taken to hospital to receive treatment to life threatening injuries where she remained for over three weeks.

Detective Superintendent Simon Vickers leading the investigation said: “Following the initial report from members of the public, officers were able to carry out an area search and located a group of teenagers who had been camping in a wooded area overnight near to Ferriby High Road.

“As a part of the area search, officers recovered a Katana sword from within one of the tents and six teenagers, four boys aged 14, 15, 16 and 17-years-old, and two girls, 14 and 15-years-old were swiftly arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder.”

Detectives began to conduct multiple lines of enquiry to understand the circumstances which led to the girl sustaining life threatening stab wounds.

Detective Superintendent Vickers added: “Whilst the teenagers were in custody being questioned, it was quickly established that the group had arranged to go camping however, the girl, had been involved in an argument with people in the group.

“Feeling unwelcome, the teenage girl became uncomfortable and decided that she was going to leave when one of the boys offered to walk her through the wooded area.

“Her attacker then pursued the pair insisting that he would walk with her, and the other teenager returned to the camp site.

“What the girl didn’t know was, that he intended to stab her. As the pair started walking, the girl saw the 15-year-old pull a knife from the waist band of his trousers after pretending to go to the toilet and she attempted to flee to safety.

“The boy then pushed her to floor before proceeding to repeatedly stab her.”

The following day (2nd November 2024) the 15-year-old boy was charged with attempted murder and remanded into custody to appear at Hull Magistrates Court.

After the boy was charged, detectives continued with lines of enquiry to further build a case surrounding the attack to understand what, if any part, any other members of the group had in the incident which led to the girl spending 25 days in hospital receiving lifesaving care.

As a part of the continued investigation five teenagers were further arrested on 22nd January on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.

Detective Superintendent Vickers said: “Following thorough and extensive lines of enquiry, including phone data analysis, detectives were able to establish that when the group had packed their bags for the evening on Thursday 31st October, the 15-year-old girl, now 16-years-old, had taken a Katana sword from a family members’ knife collection.

“Throughout the course of the evening, the knife was passed around the group and also used to aid in starting a fire and to cook food the group had taken with them for the evening before the teenage boy used it to attack the girl.”

The 15-year-old boy will be sentenced at Hull Crown Court on Friday 4th April. Three teenage boys aged 15, 16 and 17-years-old, and a 14-year-old girl were subsequently released without charge in connection with the attack on the teenage girl.

A 16-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with possession of an offensive weapon and appeared at Hull Youth Court on 25th February.

She was handed a nine-month youth referral order and ordered to pay a £111 fine.

Detective Superintendent Vickers said: “This was an unnecessary and sustained attack on a young, innocent, and defenceless teenage girl who is lucky to be alive.

“The level of injuries that she sustained were brutal and I cannot begin to imagine the sheer strength and determination that it must have taken for her to navigate away from her attacker and seek help from members of the public.

“I’d like to commend her for her courage throughout the course of the investigation, court proceedings and whilst she continues with her ongoing recovery.

“The mental scars of the horrific experience she endured will undoubtedly stay with her for the rest of her life.

“To the members of the public who came to the teenage girls aid, I’d like to once again thank-you for everything you did in helping the girl that morning whilst officers alongside medical professionals were able to get to the scene.

“Knife crime can impact people from any walk of life, that is why we continue to do everything we can to take weapons of our streets.

“It is really important to educate our communities that by possessing some types of knives, even just at home, they could be committing a criminal offence. It is also crucial to mention the fact that even if they are not the one carrying a knife, but were there when a knife was wielded, they too could suffer the criminal consequences.

“Whether you find yourself in a confrontational situation at home, or are thinking about carrying a knife for your protection, ask yourself, what is the point?

“One knife impacts more than one life.”