Teenager, 15, jailed after school knife assault

A teenage boy has been jailed over several incidents including one involving a knife at a school.

The 15-year-old, who as 14 at the time of the offences, had previously pleaded guilty to eight separate offences.

The offences included an incident involving a knife which led to the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, being restrained by staff at Haute Vallée School in St Helier on 9 February. A student sustained very minor hand injuries.

In Jersey's Royal Court, the boy was sentenced to two years and three months in youth detention by Judge Bailiff Robert MacRae.

The teenager was charged with two counts of possessing an offensive weapon and two counts of grave and criminal assault along with offences of attempted illegal entry with an attempt to commit a crime, assault, attempt to commit robbery and larceny.

Incidents related to the charges included a McDonald's worker being assaulted, stealing two pairs of sunglasses, a padel racket and bluetooth phone adapter from an unattended vehicle and committing grave and criminal assault on a relative.

Defence lawyer Adam Harrison said due to the age of the defendant, he was considerably less culpable than an adult as he had not "emotionally developed" and intervention rather than punishment now could still change the course of his life.

Harrison told the court other mitigating factors included early guilty pleas to the charges, no previous convictions and he had accepted legal responsibility, showing signs of being open to rehabilitation at Jersey's secure youth facility Greenfields.

The court also heard two letters from the family which described his "humour, kindness and respectful manner".

Harrison said: "If these [traits] marked his character, they can again."

Prosecutor Lauren Taylor said the case would have been heard at a youth court if it was just one offence, but it was held at Royal Court because it was "multiple... serious" offences.

She said the assault which took place at McDonalds included "blows to vulnerable areas" of the victim's body, also a teenager, including a knee and punch to the face.

Taylor said the incident had also take place around vulnerable people.

The court heard the defendant has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a condition that can cause trouble with things like concentrating and sitting still, according to the NHS.

His probation officer said the teenager had shown "limited remorse" for his offences, adding there was high risk of re-offending and causing harm to others, but had made some progress being held at Greenfields.

On sentencing, the bailiff said although no serious harm had been done to anyone, assault, attempted robbery and the use of a knife in a public place would always be treated seriously in Jersey and therefore it had to be a custodial sentence.

The teenager was sentenced to two years and three months youth detention of which he will serve two thirds and then be released on licence where he will be given supervision and support.

MacRae added he was pleased to hear the boy's future hopes to get qualifications including carpentry.

States of Jersey Police said the case involving the teenager was "serious and concerning".

A police spokesperson said the force wanted to commend the staff at Haute Vallée School for their "swift and selfless actions, which undoubtedly prevented more serious harm".

The Department for Children, Young People, Education and Skills said it was working closely with schools following the incident on 9 February.

"The safety and wellbeing of children, young people and staff will always remain our absolute priority," it said.

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