Teenager jailed for stabbing boy for looking at him

A 16-year-old stabbed another boy five times in front of families and children on Boxing Day – just for looking at him.
The teenager, who cannot be named due to his age, has been jailed for eight years and will serve an extra two years on licence.

Bystanders gave lifesaving first aid to the 15-year-old victim outside JD Sports in Mare
Street, Hackney, east London, after he was
stabbed in the face, back and stomach.

The Old Bailey heard one stab wound narrowly missed the victim’s spine,
and another caused potentially life-threatening injuries to his bowel.

He also needed plastic surgery after sustaining a 12cm gash on his cheek, which left a large scar.

Judge Stephen Kramer QC told the attacker:
‘You were lucky he wasn’t killed. You carried a knife and you were prepared to use it aggressively.

‘You began the confrontation and then you
used the knife. This attack was committed in broad daylight in a busy public place.’

The court heard the victim went to the sports shop with friends to take advantage of the Boxing Day sales.

But he was approached by the attacker,
described by witnesses as ‘hyped up and
looking aggressive’, who asked him: ‘Wagwan? What’s the problem?’
The attacker, who was 15 at the time, and the victim did not know each other, the court heard.

Prosecutor Ken Millett rejected the attacker’s claim the victim was staring at him, saying there was ‘no reason’ for the boy to be looking at the other teenager and the attacker ‘provoked a confrontation’.

A fight broke out, but although the victim got the attacker in a headlock, he was stabbed once in the face and four times in the torso.

Pete Hunter, defending, said he carried a knife because he feared being attacked by gangs, adding: ‘Due to his inexperience and fear, when he was put in a headlock he took a knife and makes stabbing actions. He didn’t know what was going to happen to him.

‘He does apologise to the family of the victim.

His parents are mortified by his actions.’
The 16 year-old, from Hackney, admitted
wounding with intent and possession of an
offensive weapon.