## Judge Condemns Schoolgirl in Attempted Murder Case, Claiming Attacks Were ‘For Attention’
A judge has delivered strong condemnation to a 14-year-old girl who was found guilty of attempting to murder two of her teachers and a fellow pupil at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in Ammanford. The teenager, who cannot be named due to her age, brought her father’s knife to school and inflicted serious injuries during an attack that horrified staff, students, and the wider community.
The incident occurred on the morning of 24 April last year, during a school break. According to testimony presented at Swansea Crown Court, the girl approached Deputy Head Teacher Fiona Elias in the schoolyard and declared her violent intent before using a multi-tool knife to stab her in the arms. The confrontation escalated when teacher Liz Hopkin intervened in an effort to restrain the girl. Instead, Ms Hopkin was stabbed repeatedly in the neck, back, legs, and arms.
The chaos continued as the defendant, after being spoken to by other staff members, fled the immediate scene but then attacked a 14-year-old pupil with the same bladed weapon. Her rampage was only brought under control after staff succeeded in restraining and disarming her. During the trial, harrowing CCTV footage of the attack was shown to the court, while the victims recounted their terrifying experiences. Both teachers testified that they genuinely feared for their lives during the assault.
Evidence also emerged of the girl’s troubling mental state in the lead-up to the attacks. Disturbing notebook entries were read to the jury, including expressions of a desire to kill others as strongly as herself. Such revelations raised further concerns regarding the underlying issues that contributed to this violent outburst.
Initially, the defendant admitted to possessing a bladed article and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, but denied the more serious charge of attempted murder. The jury, however, was convinced by the prosecution’s case and found her guilty on all counts following the February trial. The case returned to court for sentencing on 28 April, when Judge Paul Thomas KC handed down a 15-year custodial sentence.
In his remarks, Judge Thomas directly addressed the teenage defendant. He emphasised the immense damage the attack had inflicted, stating firmly, “The simple fact is, you tried to kill three people – two teachers and another pupil.” The judge concluded, based on evidence and his own observations, that the girl had brought the knife to school with clear intent to harm, singling out Mrs Elias as a planned target but also forming intent to kill her additional victims shortly before those attacks.
Judge Thomas was also deeply critical of the motive behind the incident. He said, “I think it’s very important here that what you did, you did in full view of so many other pupils at breaktime… That is not a coincidence. In my view you wanted as many fellow pupils as possible to see what you were going to do. You picked the time and you picked the place to attack Mrs Elias.” He went on to suggest, “I believe you did what you did, above all, for attention – perhaps attention you have not had from others. I think, in a weird way, you actually enjoyed the reaction and publicity coming out of what you did.”
While sentencing, the judge noted the defendant had shown little or no genuine remorse for her actions, commenting on her “lack of interest or emotion” during victims’ statements. He expressed doubt about her contrition, telling her, “I don’t think you care very much, if at all, about how the victims have suffered.”
Under the terms of the sentence, the girl will spend half of her 15-year term in custody, before being released on licence, subject to recall until nearly age 30. The judge made it clear that if she had been an adult, the sentence would have been significantly longer — up to 33 years in prison.
The case has prompted reflection within the educational and legal community about the growing challenges of supporting vulnerable young people, while maintaining safety and reassurance for staff and students in schools. The shocking events of that April morning will undoubtedly leave a lasting mark on Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, and highlight the importance of addressing mental health and behavioural issues before they result in tragedy.