A teenager has been jailed for repeatedly stabbing a boy in a field near a funfair.
The youth, who was 15 at the time, targeted the 17-year-old victim in Meadowcroft Fields, Upper Stratton, shortly after 8pm on 8 June this year.
The victim sustained life-threatening wounds and required “extensive treatment”, police said.
The defendant, now aged 16, was charged with attempted murder but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.
At Bristol Crown Court today (Thursday), the teenager was handed a five-year prison sentence.
For legal reasons, neither the defendant or victim can be named by the press or the public.
“There can be no place for incidents like this in Swindon or anywhere else across Wiltshire”, DC Corrina Wiltshire, of Swindon CID, said.
“This was a targeted assault where the defendant, who knew the victim, has gone looking for him and has then proceeded to stab him multiple times.
“The victim has needed to go through extensive treatment for his injuries.
“The incident also happened in broad daylight in a park with multiple people including children around, which must have been traumatic to witness.”
DC Wiltshire praised witnesses who went to the aid of the victim, who was bleeding out.
She continued: “I’d like to thank the members of the public who administered potentially lifesaving first aid before the emergency services arrived.
“The impact of knife crime on our communities can’t be underestimated, and it is a Force priority to target those who are carrying knives.
“Even one incident involving a knife is too many, and I’d urge anybody who feels the need to carry a knife, whether to proactively use it or for their own protection, to please consider otherwise.
“The impact of doing so can be lifelong. We are continuing to undertake a significant amount of work on the streets and with our partners to get to the root of knife crime.
“A key element of this is visiting schools across the county to educate children on the dangers of carrying knives and how they should respond if someone they know is carrying a knife.
“It is not, however, a problem that can be solved by the police alone. It will require a long term, joined up approach between the police, our partners, and parents to educate young people on the risks you take by carrying knives.”
