14-year-old boy's sentence for stabbing girl after rejecting him causes outrage
A 14-year-old boy has received a 12-month referral order and a three-year restraining order following a knife attack on a teenage girl in a Cirencester shop which took place earlier this year in March.
The boy appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Monday (21 September) after previously pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to wounding with intent, inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent, and possession of a bladed article in a public place.
According to a Gloucestershire press release, the court heard that the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had become obsessed with the girl, also 14, in his school.
The girl had rejected his advances in December 2025, and the boy later began to use fake social media accounts to send her messages.
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Police were called to Upper Churnside in Cirencester at around 11.15am on 15 March following a report of a stabbing.
"The boy had been waiting for the girl near a shop and had entered it armed with a kitchen knife in his jeans pocket after seeing her go into it to buy a drink," the release continues.
"He grabbed her forcefully and struck her repeatedly with the knife.
"The shopkeeper, who was in the store at the time, attempted to grab the boy and pull him away. The boy then struck the shopkeeper in the back with the knife, causing him to flee.
"During this, the girl was able to run out of the shop and raise the alarm at a neighbouring property.
The teenage girl sustained cuts to her neck, hands and face, and bruising to her back, while the shopkeeper was also injured, sustaining a cut to his back.
"The boy fled the scene but was found by police close to the location. He was searched, and a knife was found in his jeans pocket. He also had a fresh cut to his hand," the release adds.
"I've been having nightmares since"
In a Victim Personal Statement read to the court, the girl said: "I'm scared and nervous anywhere that I go. Even if someone puts their hand up next to me, I flinch as I don't know what they are about to do to me. I know this is a result of the incident, as I wasn't like this before.
"I was in so much shock after it happened. I didn't leave the house for a couple of days. I never thought something like this would ever happen to me, or anyone I know at all.
"I've been having nightmares since; I relive the incident, but in these dreams it happens in different places. I sleep in the dark, but when I wake, I constantly feel like there is a presence in the room. I can't stop thinking about it."
She continued: "This is going to affect my ability to trust people. I’m now getting dropped off to work…because I don't want to be outside on my own. I shouldn't have to feel like this as a teenager in my own area."
Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Superintendent Ian Fletcher, Head of Serious and Complex Investigations, said: "This was a frenzied attack that took place in broad daylight.
"The victim was stabbed multiple times with a knife and has been very, very lucky to get away with only minor injuries. We could easily have been looking at a fatal incident if that knife had pierced her anywhere else.
"My hope now is that the victim is able to move on from these deeply traumatic events and start to rebuild her life again."
He also likened the attack to the Netflix drama Adolescence, in which a teenager stabs his female classmate, describing the boy as 'obsessed'.
Sentence slammed as 'misogynistic'
The boy's sentencing has since sparked anger from campaigners whose daughters were murdered by former partners.
Carole Gould, whose 17-year-old daughter Ellie was killed by her ex-boyfriend in 2019, told the BBC she was 'absolutely appalled' by the sentence and called it 'misogynistic'.
She said: "The sentence says 'we're not going to take this seriously'. It's totally wrong."
Carole outlined that there needed to be greater education around coercive control and violence against women and girls, particularly among young people.
"We need societal change where young men and boys understand that this coercive controlling behaviour is not acceptable in society," she said.
"Everyone has a right to end a relationship if it's not right for them."
She also highlighted the long-term impact on the victim, saying: "This poor girl is going to be living with this for the rest of her life; she has a life sentence."
Nick Gazzard, whose daughter Hollie was murdered in 2014 after ending her relationship, also criticised the sentence.
He said: "This is a case of rejection whereby he wouldn't take no for an answer. Very much the same in Hollie's case."
Nick, who founded the Hollie Gazzard Trust following his daughter's death, now works with schools to teach young boys about dealing with rejection.
He said: "What we have to do, through rehabilitation and education, is to get people to understand no means no, and individuals have a right to say no."
Both parents are campaigning for changes to how domestic abuse, coercive control and domestic killings are addressed.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson told Tyla: "This was a horrific crime. Our thoughts remain with the victim, who has shown incredible bravery in holding her perpetrator to account, and her loved ones.
"Sentencing decisions are made by independent judges in line with the law set by Parliament. We are clear that there should always be punishments available which fit the severity of the crime.
"Violence against women and girls is a national emergency. That’s why we’re investing over £1 billion to support victims, strengthening protections and targeting perpetrators as we work to halve it within a decade."
Rhiannon Ingle