A teenage girl has been detained for 15 years after attempting to murder two teachers and a pupil during a stabbing attack at a Carmarthenshire school.
The girl, who was 13 at the time of the incident at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in Ammanford, wounded teachers Fiona Elias and Liz Hopkin, as well as a fellow pupil, during a breaktime assault on 24 April 2024.
She had pleaded guilty to three counts of wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article but denied attempted murder. However, a jury at Swansea Crown Court found her guilty of attempted murder on all three victims.
The court heard that the teenager, armed with a fishing knife belonging to her father, stabbed Elias while shouting threats, before turning on Hopkin and a pupil. After the attack, she told police officers: “That’s one way to be a celebrity.”
Both teachers sustained multiple injuries, while the pupil suffered an arm wound. In victim impact statements, Elias described the trauma as a moment that “replays itself over and over,” while Hopkin said the incident had been “the worst experience of my life.”
The girl will be eligible for release on licence after serving half of her sentence but could be recalled to custody if she breaches conditions. Judge Thomas KC noted the lack of significant remorse but encouraged the teenager to find a positive path forward.
Prior to the attack, school staff had previously discovered a knife in the girl’s possession, resulting in her temporary exclusion and daily bag searches upon her return.
The sentencing highlights ongoing concerns around youth knife crime and school safety across the UK.
Teenage Girl Detained for 15 Years Over Mass School Stabbings
