A 14-year-old girl who carried out a stabbing attack at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman has been sentenced to 15 years in detention, following a shocking incident that left two teachers and a pupil injured.
The teenager, who cannot be named due to her age, will serve at least half of her sentence in custody. She was found guilty of attempted murder at Swansea Crown Court after a retrial in February, following the collapse of the first trial. The violent attack took place on 24 April 2024, when the girl stabbed teachers Fiona Elias and Liz Hopkin, and a fellow 14-year-old pupil, while screaming threats to kill.
Teachers and Pupils Injured in Brutal School Attack
Ms Elias suffered stab wounds to both arms after the teenager launched an unprovoked attack with a multi-tool knife brought from her father’s possession. Fellow teacher Ms Hopkin attempted to restrain the attacker but was also stabbed multiple times in the neck, back, legs, and arms. A 14-year-old pupil was later targeted, sustaining a wound to her upper arm. The situation was brought under control when teacher Darrel Campbell restrained the teenager until her arrest.
Victims Speak of Lifelong Trauma
Delivering her emotional victim impact statement, Ms Elias said she would “never forget” the moment she saw the knife blade, describing the emotional scars left by the attack. She recalled how her daughter learned of the incident via a misleading social media post, deepening the trauma.
Ms Elias directly addressed the teenage attacker, saying: “Your motive was clear, you tried to murder me,” and credited Ms Hopkin’s intervention for saving her life. She vowed to campaign for greater teacher protection in schools.
Ms Hopkin also shared the lasting impact the attack had on her, stating that the scars remained both physically and emotionally. She expressed sadness for the teenager’s future, despite the violent actions, and said she did not want the event to define the girl’s life.
Judge Slams Teen’s Lack of Remorse
In sentencing, Judge Paul Thomas said the teenager showed no remorse and had carried out the attack for attention. He noted she had made further serious threats since the incident and posed an ongoing risk even after her release. The judge added that the girl “seemed to enjoy the attention” surrounding the case.
The teenager listened impassively as her sentence was passed, arms crossed, before being returned to a detention centre. She will be nearly 30 years old when her licence period expires.
