Teen given life sentence over school hammer attack

A teenage lad has been detained for beingness to service a minimum word of 12 years aft trying to termination 3 radical successful an onslaught with a hammer astatine a boarding school.

The 17-year-old - who cannot beryllium named for ineligible reasons - attacked 2 roommates, aged 15 and 16 astatine the time, during the aboriginal hours of 9 June 2023 astatine Blundell's School successful Tiverton, Devon, leaving them with terrible injuries.

He besides attacked housemaster Henry Roffe-Silvester, who suffered six wounds to his head.

The teenager, who claimed helium was sleepwalking during the incident, was sentenced astatine Exeter Crown Court connected Friday aft antecedently being recovered blameworthy of 3 counts of attempted murder.

During a proceedings which ended successful June, the tribunal heard the suspect - who was 16 astatine the clip of the onslaught - had equipped himself with 3 claw hammers.

The proceedings heard the teen had admitted assaulting the victims but claimed helium was sleepwalking erstwhile the onslaught took place.

Giving evidence, helium claimed helium kept 2 hammers by his furniture for "protection" from a "zombie apocalypse".

The tribunal heard helium waited for his 2 roommates to autumn dormant earlier attacking them.

The brace suffered injuries including skull fractures, a punctured lung and interior bleeding, with the tribunal being told some were present surviving with "long-term consequences" of the incident.

Mr Roffe-Silvester was deed respective times implicit the caput with a hammer erstwhile helium went to analyse what was happening erstwhile helium was awoken successful his quarters by the incident, the tribunal was told.

The families of the victims - who are present aged 16 and 17 - said the hammer onslaught had been a "horrific case" to woody with and thanked everyone who had helped them.

A household subordinate of the 17-year-old unfortunate said: "I americium looking guardant to my household moving connected present that the proceedings is over, and I anticipation my lad volition proceed his betterment and person a bully aboriginal ahead."

The 16-year-old's household added: "We are indebted to everyone progressive and would similar to convey our sincerest thanks."

After the sentencing, Det Insp Dave Egan, elder investigating serviceman for Devon and Cornwall Police, said it had been an "unprovoked attack" which would person a "lasting impact" connected the victims, their families and the full schoolhouse community.

"The assaults were some brutal and savage, and I person nary uncertainty that his intent was to kill," Insp Egan said.