CCTV shows masked boy guilty of trying to murder schoolgirl in Norfolk school attack
Reported by BBC News · October 21, 2026
Attack at the school
CCTV showed the girl being stabbed in the back before the attacker ran away, pursued by a teacher. She told police she was in “panic mode” and felt numb and weak.
Evidence heard in court
Jurors heard that the boy had a hatred of women and an “obsessive and dangerous interest” in killers and killing. A note written before the attack said: “I really want to do it, really bad, I hate having to wait,” Paxton said.
The prosecution argued that the knife strike was an attempt to kill. Jurors deliberated for just under four hours before returning a majority verdict.
Judge warns of long sentence
The trial began two weeks before the verdict. After the boy was found guilty, Mr Justice Lickley said he would consider a custodial sentence “of some considerable length” because of the offence’s seriousness.
Key points
- The boy was found guilty of attempting to murder a girl at Thorpe St Andrew School.
- The girl suffered a minor injury and was taken to hospital.
- The school went into lockdown as armed police responded.
- The judge said he would consider a custodial sentence of considerable length.