Teen Jailed for Shocking Random Knife Attacks on Schoolgirls in Croydon
16-Year-Old Locked Up for Brutal Stabbings and Assaults
A 16-year-old boy has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in custody, followed by three years on license, at Croydon Crown Court on Friday, 16 July. He pleaded guilty earlier this year to multiple charges, including two counts of causing grievous bodily harm, four counts of sexual assault, assault by penetration, and common assault. A robbery charge was left on file.
Random Knife Attacks Spark Fear Across Croydon
Detective Sergeant Sarah Barrett, leading the investigation, condemned the unprovoked nature of the attacks. “These assaults were random and left not just the victims, but the whole community scared and worried for their daughters,” she said. “We still don’t know why the teenager carried out these horrific attacks.”
She also praised the bravery of the victims who came forward. “I would like to thank the girls who helped us bring this case to justice.”
Timeline: When the Attacks Took Place
- 4 November 2020, 8.50am: Police called to Moffat Road, Croydon. A 15-year-old girl was randomly stabbed in the leg by a stranger. She was treated at hospital and later discharged.
- 6 November 2020, 8.23am: Another 15-year-old girl was stabbed in the arm on St Paul’s Road, Croydon. Emergency services attended, and she was treated and released.
The girls went to different schools and were not believed to know each other.
Earlier Attacks Linked to Same Perpetrator
Police connected these stabbings to four other assaults between November 2019 and October 2020. Teenage girls walking to school were sexually assaulted or attacked by the same individual. The suspect was arrested at his home in Thornton Heath on 8 November 2020.
Tell Us What You Know: Help Stop Knife Crime
If you know someone caught up in knife crime, speak up. You can give information anonymously through the charity Crimestoppers. It may feel tough, but your tip could save a life.
No piece of information is too small in the fight against knife crime and the pain it causes families.
