Pak-origin school boy jailed in UK for stabbing teacher in racially-motivated attack

London, Aug 10: A 14-year-old Pakistani-origin school bully has been sentenced to 11 years' detention for stabbing his black teacher in a classroom in a racially-motivated attack in Bradford, north England.

The boy stabbed Vincent Uzomah at Dixons Kings Academy on June 11. Bradford Crown Court heard there was "clear evidence" he attacked the 50-year-old because he was black, and later boasted about the attack on social media.

Sentencing the boy, who cannot be named because of his age, Judge Durham Hall today described him as "out of control" and a bully who "could not tolerate being told off".

According to court reports, he accepted that the attack was racially motivated and that the boy could not handle being disciplined by a black man. The boy denied attempted murder but admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

He racially abused Uzomah before stabbing him in the stomach with a kitchen knife he had brought to school, the court heard. Prosecutors said the boy had discussed the attack with a friend beforehand.

"He approached Uzomah and reached into his pocket but at that point he took out the knife and stabbed Uzomah in the stomach. Uzomah thought he was going to die," prosecutor Jonathan Sharp told the court.

Uzomah, who was in hospital for a week after the attack, said the stabbing "has left psychological scars on my life and the life of my family".

The court was also told how the teenager had previous convictions for attempted robbery and assault on another boy when aged just 13.

The boy's lawyer said: "He is an angry young man with difficulties." About 20 minutes after the attack, the court heard, the boy, who was not arrested until six hours later, boasted on Facebook about the stabbing.

The post received 69 "likes", something the judge described as "an appalling reflection of a small microcosm of our society".

Speaking outside court, 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."

PTI