Boy detained after 'nightmare' school knife attack

The incident took place at Manshead Academy, Caddington, on 2 May

A teenager who took a kitchen knife to school, "slashed" a staff member and attacked a child he held hostage, has been given a three-year custodial sentence.

The boy, who is now 17 but was 16 at the time of the incident at Manshead CE Academy in Caddington, Bedfordshire, in May, had mental health difficulties, a judge heard.

Judge Geoffrey Payne sentenced the teenager, who had admitted wounding, false imprisonment and making threats with a knife, at a hearing in Luton Crown Court on Friday.

He heard how the school had gone into lockdown and told the teenager: "This sort of thing happening in your school really is the stuff of nightmares."

Judge Payne made orders barring the teenager, the child victim, and staff at the school from being identified in media reports.

The judge imposed a three-year detention order and barred the teenager from contacting the child victim and going near the school.

He said the boy, who has been on remand in custody since May, would be eligible for release on licence in late 2026, after serving half of his custodial term.

Judge Payne heard that the teenager had learning disabilities and was autistic, and had not been "involved" with courts before.

"I am afraid I have come to the conclusion that you must have known what you were doing," he told him.

"Your autism does not excuse it."

The judge said what the boy did was "over the top" and "one of the worst things that can happen in a school community".

Manshead CE Academy went into lockdown after the teenager was spotted with a knife

Charlotte Newell KC, prosecuting, told how a teacher had seen the teenager with a kitchen knife which had a blade measuring about 8in (20cm)

The teenager had first punched and kicked a "vulnerable" 15-year-old boy while holding him "hostage" at knifepoint, the judge heard.

Miss Newell said the teenager had come across his child victim in a corridor.

She said he had not stabbed him but had pointed the knife towards teachers who were trying to help and threatened more "extreme violence".

Miss Newell said a member of the school's support staff had then been attacked after encountering the teenager on school grounds.

The judge, who heard how the teenager had "slashed" with the knife and caused a "long" cut on the man's hand, was shown CCTV footage of the attack.

Miss Newell said the school had gone into lockdown and the teenager had been detained by police.

The teenager was sentenced at Luton Crown Court on Friday

Alistair Polson, for the teenager, outlined his client's health difficulties.

"He was labouring under symptoms of the manifestation of autism spectrum disorder," said Mr Polson.

"He does not fully understand the position in the world he is in."

Mr Polson added: "The prospects of rehabilitation are good."

The judge was told of concerns about the teenager's behaviour before the attack.

He heard that the teenager had been drinking and taking cannabis; had posted about "intending to kill somebody", and had "gone missing" for a period of time.