Classroom stabbing boy sentenced

A 13-year-old boy who pulled a knife from his sock and stabbed a pupil at a school in Leeds has been sentenced.

The defendant, who cannot be named, earlier pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding of a 14-year-old boy at the secondary school in February.

He was given a two-year supervision order and was electronically tagged.

Bradford Crown Court heard the victim was stabbed in a science laboratory following a fight between the defendant and himself.

Prosecutor Peter Moulson told the court the incident began in a corridor as the defendant was on his way to a science lesson.

Stabbed in chest

He said physical contact was made and words were exchanged when the 13-year-old found his way blocked by three older pupils, including the victim.

The 14-year-old followed the defendant into the classroom and a fight broke out, resulting in the defendant pulling out the knife from his sock.

The court was told the older pupil pushed the defendant up against a wall, and was then stabbed once in his shoulder and three times in the chest.

A 15-year-old boy stopped the incident by punching the defendant in the face and taking the knife from him.

'Great provocation'

When interviewed, the defendant told police he had found the knife on school playing fields two days earlier and had kept it "in case anything happened".

Mr Mouslon said the boy accepted there was no need for a pupil to carry a knife.

Sentencing the boy, Judge Taylor said: "I understand from what has been said there was great deal of provocation that you were confronted with on that day.

"I understand that, but nonetheless you must understand that the law does not allow you to carry a knife or seek to protect yourself by carrying a knife."

The 15-year-old boy who intervened was commended by the judge and will receive a letter of commendation praising him for his actions.