Teenager jailed after stabbing spree at school claimed ‘God told him to do it’
A teenager who embarked on a frenzied attack at his former school with a piece of broken glass has been jailed for at least five years.
Louis Melotte, 17, was ordered to serve five years in youth detention with an extended five year licence period, following his attack at the Sheffield’s Birley Academy in May.
Chilling video footage of the incident shows Melotte enter the reception area and ask for a staff member, while three schoolgirls loiter nearby.
Melotte then approaches one of the girls, aged just 12, and attacks her without warning with a shard of glass which has hidden up his sleeve.
Molly Bulmer, a youth mentor who was nearby at the time of the attack, intervened and tried to stop Melotte, and was also injured in the process
Meanwhile, receptionist Alicia Richards ushered the three girls away before being pursued by Melotte, who also attempted to attack her.
Both Bulmer and Richards were scratched during the incident, which caused the school to go into lockdown. Melotte was apprehended shortly afterwards by police.
As Ms Bulmer attempted to restrain the boy, she recalled him saying: ‘This was meant to happen’.
A series of social media posts by Melotte published just prior to the attack saw him say: ‘Today is the day; a calling from the Lord Jesus Christ has been cast upon me.
‘To do what God Almighty thinks is necessary.’
The court heard how he smashed a glass at home before calmly walking the 20 minutes to the school with the pieces hidden up his sleeve.
As he launched his attack, he was heard to say: ‘I’m going to kill everyone.’
Ms Bulmer, who works with children at risk of exclusion, said she had struggled to go back to the school after the incident and felt this meant the pupils she worked with were victims too.
In an impact statement read to the court, Ms Bulmer said: ‘In truth I do not think I have really come to terms with what happened to me on the day of this incident.The fact that I managed to escape without at least life changing injuries is baffling to me.’
Following Ms Bulmer’s statement to the court, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC said he would be recommending her and receptionist Alicia Richards for commendations for their bravery.
Speaking to Ms Bulmer directly, Judge Richardson said: ‘I think you should be terribly proud of yourself for what you did. You didn’t stand back, nor did your colleague. Not a bit of it. You went forward.
‘You had no idea what he had in his hands.’
The judge said: ‘Without a thought for your own safety you went forward to protect school children.
‘That’s a courageous thing to do, a really courageous thing to do, and you should be really proud of yourself, because you made a difference.
‘Both you and your colleague are deserving of high praise for what you did.’
Melotte, who sat in the dock wearing a bright blue jacket over a black shirt, was found guilty of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent earlier this year and had previously pleaded guilty to taking a bladed article into a school.
Judge Richardson lifted an order protecting Melotte’s identity at a previous hearing.
The judge accepted that the defendant was autistic and had mental health problems, including suffering from psychosis at the time of the incident.
He said this explained ‘up to a point’ what happened, but the judge added: ‘You knew what you were doing, of that there is no doubt.’
Judge Richardson said he accepted Melotte had a troubled upbringing and said he was extremely worried by white supremacist material he had posted online.
The judge said: ‘Protection of the public must be my lodestar in this case.’
He said: ‘Schools and colleges are places of learning. They are also places where those attending, whether pupils or staff, must feel safe. They must be kept safe.’
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