Blundell's hammer attack victim had multiple head wounds

A doctor said one of the hammer attack victims had injuries to his scalp, ribs and fingers

A teenage victim of a hammer attack at a school suffered "at least 15 wounds to his scalp", a jury has heard.

Consultant radiologist Dr Richard Wellings told Exeter Crown Court the 15-year-old pupil of Blundell's School, Tiverton, suffered skull fractures during the attack on 9 June.

He said some impact wounds penetrated membranes around the boy's brain.

The defendant, a 17-year-old boy who cannot be named due to his age, denies three counts of attempted murder.

The court has heard three people - pupils aged 15 and 16 and housemaster Henry Roffe-Silvester - all suffered serious injuries during the incident.

Potentially more injuries

Dr Wellings said the 15-year-old also had rib and finger fractures.

He added the pupil might have had more head injuries, but some of the wounds were "not visible to the CT scan".

A pupil who witnessed the attack told the jury the dormitory looked like a "bloodbath" after the attack.

He said the defendant, who was 16 at the time of the incident, told him after the attack he had bought three hammers for "protection".

Defendant was 'really scared'

He also said the defendant claimed one of victims, the 16-year-old pupil, had attacked him and he "had to hit him back".

Speaking about the defendant, the witness said: "He was rambling on.

"I think he was really scared."

The defence team has admitted the defendant carried out the attack, but have claimed he was sleepwalking during the incident and have denied it was attempted murder.

The trial continues.