14-Year-Old Boy Stabbed Schoolgirl After She Rejected Him in Cirencester Shop

A 14-year-old boy from Wiltshire has been sentenced after repeatedly stabbing a 14-year-old schoolgirl inside a shop in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, following her rejection of his romantic advances.

The teenager had previously dated the girl briefly. After she ended the relationship and rejected his advances in December 2025, the boy became increasingly fixated on her and began using fake social media accounts to send her messages, a court heard.

The attack happened at around 11:15 a.m. on March 15, 2026, on Upper Churnside in Cirencester. Police said the boy had been waiting near a shop and followed the girl inside after seeing her enter to buy a drink. He was carrying a kitchen knife concealed in his jeans.

CCTV footage captured the attack inside the store. The boy approached the girl, grabbed her and repeatedly stabbed her. When the shopkeeper intervened in an attempt to stop the assault, he was also struck in the back with the knife. The girl eventually managed to escape and raise the alarm at a nearby property.

The girl suffered cuts to her neck, face and hands, as well as bruising to her back. Although she survived, she told the court that the attack had left her struggling with fear and anxiety. She described experiencing nightmares, reliving the incident in her dreams and becoming afraid to go out alone. She also said the experience had affected her ability to trust other people.

The boy fled the shop following the attack but was located by police nearby. Officers found the knife still in his jeans pocket and arrested him. He later pleaded guilty to wounding with intent, inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent, and possession of a bladed article in a public place.

On September 21, 2026, he appeared before Bristol Crown Court, sitting as a youth court. The court imposed a 12-month referral order and a three-year restraining order. His identity cannot legally be disclosed because he was a child at the time of the offences.

Detective Superintendent Ian Fletcher described the incident as a “frenzied attack” that happened in broad daylight. He said the victim had been extremely fortunate to survive and that the consequences could have been fatal if the knife had struck elsewhere.

The case has drawn attention to the lasting impact that violent attacks can have on young victims. While the girl survived her physical injuries, her statement to the court highlighted the continuing emotional consequences of what happened and the fear she now experiences in her own community.

Source: LBC