Mother condemns sentence over Cirencester girl stabbing by 14-year-old boy

A 14-year-old boy has been given a three-year restraining order after admitting he stabbed a girl multiple times in a shop in Cirencester in March. The attack happened after she ended their brief relationship and refused to date him, police said. The boy was not given a custodial sentence, prompting criticism from the victim's mother and a campaigner on violence against women and girls.

The girl's mother, who cannot be named to protect her daughter's identity, said the outcome was disgraceful. She said her daughter had been left petrified and that the family had been let down. "Attempted murder is what it is to take her life and throw her against shelving like a ragdoll and repeatedly try to stab her," she said. She added that the shopkeeper's quick actions saved her daughter's life.

Police described the boy as obsessed with the victim. They said his behaviour built after the break-up and led to a vicious attack. He had walked for three hours to reach her, carrying a six-inch kitchen knife hidden in his jeans. Footage showed him walking into the shop, grabbing the girl and striking her ten times. The shopkeeper tried to pull him off and was also stabbed before both victims managed to escape.

The pair had been at school together and had briefly been in a relationship. When police searched the boy's bedroom, they found diaries in which he logged who she was speaking to online. Officers said he used fake social media accounts to try to befriend and stay friends with her. When she realised it was him and did not want contact, that final rejection led to the attack, police said.

The boy pleaded guilty to the attack. The judge said he did not consider him dangerous, saying he was still young and capable of learning. The court imposed a three-year restraining order.

The victim's mother called the sentencing guidelines an insult. "I want some justice for my child. I want some protection and the guidelines are an insult," she said. "If you are big enough to commit an adult crime, you should have the punishment regardless of your age. It was not a petty crime, it wasn't petty theft, it was attempted murder."

The case was also raised by Carol Gould, whose daughter Ellie Gould was 17 when she was murdered by her ex-boyfriend Thomas Griffiths. She has campaigned for tougher sentences for younger offenders. She said the outcome sent a message that violence against women and girls is not taken seriously. "That poor girl ended a very brief relationship and he took out revenge on her and then there's no consequences for that," she said. She noted the girl had knife injuries to her neck and said the outcome could have been different. "This was attempted murder, there's no doubt about it. It was premeditated, he waited for her and then he attacked her. And I'm absolutely appalled at the outcome of this."

The Ministry of Justice said it shared the public's shock at the details of the horrific crime. It said sentencing decisions are made by independent judges in line with sentencing guidelines. The family said they had been left feeling utterly scared and completely let down.