Teenager avoids jail for stabbings in Walsall

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, plunged the blade into his victims after getting caught up with the ‘wrong crowd’.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard the offender would not be locked up for the ‘nasty’ Walsall attack.

Sentencing on Thursday, Recorder Peter Coke said jailing the teenager had to be a ‘last resort’.

The recorder added: “I think this was an aberration. You got in with the wrong crowd – stop being a sheep.”

The 13-year-old victim was fighting with the defendant’s friend at Reedswood Park to settle a dispute on April 21, prosecutor Miss Amiee Parkes said.

He rushed away with other youngsters but the defendant managed to catch up with the victim, who then curled into a ball as he felt ‘blows rain down on him’.

A witness also saw the second victim – a 15-year-old boy – screaming as the defendant shouted ‘aggressively’.

The 13-year-old was stabbed twice to his thigh while the 15-year-old was left with a 3 to 4cm stab wound to his left leg.

Defence barrister Mr Gurdeep Garcha said: “What he did was disgraceful.”

The teenager, who must pay £500 compensation to both victims, admitted two counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and possession of a bladed article.

He was made subject to a six-day weapons awareness course, 80-hours unpaid work and a four-day transition into adulthood course, and will be under the supervision of probation for 18 months.

The defendant, who must also pay a victim surcharge, was handed a restraining order.