Teen was ‘egged on’ to stab Royal Wootton Bassett school boy

Police officers were first called to the New Road area of Royal Wootton Bassett at around 9.30pm on June 3, 2024, after reports of a stabbing.

Three males all aged 16-17 were arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.

One of the males, a 17-year-old boy who has pleaded guilty to the stabbing, has now appeared in Swindon Magistrate’s Court on September 18 and has been sentenced to time in prison.

The 17-year-old boy, who we will call Boy A due to his age, stabbed Victim 1 in the back, leaving him with lacerations described as ‘incredibly deep’, and then swung the blade towards Victim 2, who escaped without any wounds.

Prosecutor Keith Ballinger told the court: “The victims and defendants all knew each other from school.

“The two teenage victims had arranged to go out for a cigarette in the local area when they encountered the three defendants.

“They tried to leave the area but were followed by all three boys. One of the defendants distributed knives and all three boys went on to attack the victims.”

The stabbing took place on New Road in Royal Wootton Bassett (Image: Google Maps) Shortly after the incident took place, Boy A walked to Royal Wootton Bassett Police Station, called 999 and handed himself in.

“He did a very courageous thing by handing himself in immediately, there’s no doubt about that - but he did also do the stabbing," said District Judge Apted.

“This is incredibly serious. These boys could died.

“Boy A has had some horrendous experiences in life for a child of his age. Lots of things have happened to him that were not his fault.

“The letters he wrote to the court are the most moving letters I think I have ever read.

“But I can’t let emotions get the better of my judgement as a judge.”

Addressing Boy A directly, the judge added: “The offence is just off the scale because of how serious it is. You are responsible for what you have done.

“I know you were egged on and you have done a fantastic job in handing yourself in, but if Victim B hadn’t run away so quickly he would have been dead and he knows that.

“I have to send you to prison today.”

Boy A has now been sentenced to 20 months imprisonment.

The other two defendants, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old from Royal Wootton Bassett, were given referral orders and a one-year restraining order