Teen student sentenced over classroom attack
A 14-year-old Bradford student, who stabbed a teacher in the classroom before ‘boasting’ about the attack on Facebook, has been given an 11-year extended sentence at Bradford Crown Court.
Vincent Uzomah told the court on Monday 10th August that he thought he was ‘going to die’ after being stabbed in the stomach by the student at Dixons Kings Academy back in June.
However, following the sentencing handed out last week, the supply teacher said he had forgiven the teen and urged him to become a ‘changed person’.
Speaking outside court via a prepared statement, Uzomah said: “As a Christian, I have forgiven this boy who has inflicted this trauma and pain on to me and my family.
“It was, however, important for the law to run its course and for a strong message to be sent out, especially to kids of similar tendencies, that violence is never acceptable.
“Our prayer for him is that he will make use of the opportunities and support that will be provided to him, to become a changed person who will make a positive contribution to society.”
The teen, who cannot be named for legal reasons, mumbled a racist slur under his breath before carrying out the attack with a knife he had brought into the school on the morning of 11th June.
He then fled the school in the Lidget Green area of Bradford, before posting on Facebook about his actions.
He wrote: “The motherf***** getin funny so I stick the blade straight in his tummy,” garnering 69 Likes. Police eventually arrested him later that same day in Bradford city centre.
The 11-year sentence handed out last week is made up of six years in detention with a five-year extended licence period.
Det Supt Simon Atkinson, from West Yorkshire Police, said: “This was a shocking and very serious attack on a man doing a job he loved, and he was lucky that the consequences were not more serious.
“His attacker showed no concern by fleeing the scene…he worryingly showed a further lack of remorse towards his victim by boasting about it on social media.
“I would like to pay tribute to the victim, Mr Uzomah, who, despite everything that happened, has been incredibly magnanimous towards his attacker.
“I hope that today’s sentence will give him and his family some closure and allow them to move forward with their lives.
“Such violent attacks on teaching staff in West Yorkshire are thankfully rare, and police will continue to work closely with schools to ensure they remain safe places for pupils and staff.”
