Teen who pulled knife on fellow Barking pupil ‘carried it to scare off bullies’
The Dagenham girl pleaded guilty to theft and criminal damage at Barkingside Magistrates' Court - Credit: Archant
A teenager who pulled an eight-inch kitchen knife on an older pupil at school has said he carried it for protection.
The 14-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, chased after the other boy following a dispute.
Speaking at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court yesterday, the Barking teen claimed he never intended to use the knife and only carried it because he feared bullies.
“[I had it] because of problems with some people at another school just to scare them off,” he said.
“I’m really sorry for what I’ve done.”
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The court heard how the boy became angry after being pulled out of class for disrupting it.
He then spat in the face of passing pupil who agreed to give a statement about his aggression.
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After being punched, the younger boy chased the older one with a knife, saying: “Don’t disrespect me.”
The older pupil told the youth to fight him without the knife before a teaching assistant managed to convince the younger boy to hand over the weapon.
The boy, who was expelled, pleaded guilty to carrying an offensive weapon and committing common assault during the incident last month.
Magistrate Avril Miller noted that carrying a knife does not make you safe from harm.
“They end up getting stabbed themselves because it’s taken off them,” she said. “You spat at a young man – that’s disgusting.”
The boy received two 12-month Youth Offending Service referral orders which will run concurrently.
The knife was ordered to be destroyed and the boy must pay costs of £85 and a £25 victim surcharge.
