Youth admits classroom stabbing

The court heard the boy was laughing and smiling during the attack

A 14-year-old schoolboy has admitted stabbing a fellow teenager in the back in an unprovoked attack in a classroom at an Ayrshire secondary.

A court heard that the victim, who was also 14, almost died following the assault at Ayr Academy in March.

After the stabbing the attacker, who cannot be named for legal reasons, turned to others in the class and asked: "Who wants it next?"

Sentence was deferred until next month for background reports.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that the stabbing happened when the teacher left a class alone for a few minutes.

Earlier that day the 14-year-old attacker had arrived at school with a five-inch blade stolen from his grandmother's kitchen.

He had told a friend: "I've got something in my bag. I'll show you it later on."

At this critical time his life was in danger Alex Prentice QC Advocate depute

Advocate depute Alex Prentice QC, told the court that the attack happened as the teenagers sat with their backs towards the centre of the room.

When the teacher left the room the 14-year-old unzipped his bag and produced the knife.

Mr Prentice described how the boy was acting strangely and talking in a strange voice. As pupils ran to fetch the teacher he stabbed his victim in the back.

"The other pupils, fearing for their safety, gathered at the end of the room. The accused was continually laughing and smiling," said Mr Prentice.

When the teacher and a colleague rushed into the room the boy told them: "I feel so much better. I've never felt better."

The victim was taken to Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock, where doctors found his lung had collapsed and there was nearly a litre of blood in his chest.

"At this critical time his life was in danger," said Mr Prentice.

Psychiatric reports

The court heard that the attacker and victim knew each other but they were not friends, nor was there any animosity between them.

The boy later told police he had not specifically targeted his victim and that he could have stabbed anyone.

He admitted assault to the danger of life.

Judge Lord Brailsford called for background reports and ordered the schoolboy to be seen by a psychiatrist and psychologist before he returns to court next month to face sentence.

He added: "This is obviously a very disturbing matter, a very serious crime in which there has been a serious injury."