Transcripts reveal judge spared boy, 14, who stabbed girl 10 times for refusing a date because he's a 'bright lad'
Judge Ian Lawrie, who handed the 14-year-old attacker a 12-month referral order after ruling prison was the "last place" he should be, despite the boy stabbing his victim at least 10 times.Gloucester Crown Court, where judge Ian Lawrie sparked outrage by sparing the 14-year-old attacker a custodial sentence despite his victim being stabbed at least 10 times with a six-inch kitchen knife.
Judge Ian Lawrie KC released court transcripts showing he knew the attack was "premeditated, persistent and terrifying" — yet still chose not to jail the boy, 14, who stalked a schoolgirl in Cirencester before stabbing her 10 times with a six-inch kitchen knife in March after she twice rejected him. The girl's mother told the BBC her daughter now effectively "has the prison sentence," too scared to go anywhere alone and plagued by nightmares, while her attacker walks free.
The judge admitted the boy's behaviour showed 'dysfunctionality which causes me grave concern' but called custody 'the last place' for a 'bright lad' with a 'solid family background.'
The shopkeeper who tried to pull the boy away was also stabbed in the back during the attack, which police compared to the Netflix drama 'Adolescence.'
Parents of girls killed by their ex-partners called the sentence 'appalling' and 'misogynistic'; the Ministry of Justice says it is reviewing how the law can better protect victims in youth courts.
