Katy Rafter successfully prosecutes young defendant for attack at school involving multiple victims.

This case concerned an attack that took place at Birley Academy school in Sheffield on the 1st May 2024. On the morning of the attack, the defendant (a 17 year old ex-student) posted on social media threats to staff members at the school and said “Today is the day; A calling from the Lord Jesus Christ has been cast upon me. To do what God Almighty thinks is necessary”.

He armed himself with two pieces of broken glass and walked to the school, where he unleashed a vicious attack on a 12 year old student and two members of staff. The injuries would have been far worse, were it not for the courageous acts of those two staff members. The defendant was convicted of three counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and is to be sentenced later this month.