School knife teen admits six further offences

A boy who admitted offences involving a knife at a Jersey school has pleaded guilty to six other charges, including grave and criminal assault and theft.

The 15-year-old, who was 14 at the time and cannot be named, appeared at Magistrate's Court on Tuesday morning. He is due to be sentenced at the Royal Court on 21 April.

Prosecuting legal advisor Kerry Grieve told the court the teenager assaulted a male at McDonald's in St Helier in September and committed grave and criminal assault against a family member on 6 February.

On the same date, Grieve said he stole two pairs of sunglasses, a padel racket and a bluetooth phone adapter from an unattended motor vehicle.

Prosecutors said the teenager attempted to commit robbery at a flat in St Brelade on 7 February, and admitted possessing an offensive weapon, a knife, in a public place in the parish.

Grieve told the court he then tried to illegally enter La Haule Manor with intent to commit a crime of mainly larceny.

Grieve said there were "a number of aggravating features to these offences" and "whilst, fortunately, there has been little physical harm, the impact of that offending cannot be underestimated".

Grieve said although the offences were "perhaps unsophisticated - they were deliberate and planned".

The prosecution argued a sentence of 12 months would be likely "because of the gravity of offending".

The lawyer acting for the teenager, Adam Harrison, told the court that, due to his client being 14 at the time, having had no previous convictions and pleading guilty to all offences, the court should consider a shorter sentence in youth detention.

The Magistrate's Court declined bail and said the teenager would be sentenced at the Royal Court due to the seriousness of the offences.

Det Insp Christina Maclennan, of Jersey Police, thanked the public and LibertyBus for "the vast amount of support, information, and vigilance that has shown over the past week".

"Your willingness to come forward and work with us has played a crucial role in allowing officers to act swiftly."

The boy's admission to the latest offences come after his pleading guilty to one count of grave and criminal assault and one count of possession of an offensive weapon after he was arrested at Haute Vallée School on 9 February.

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