Girl, 16, locked up for stabbing welfare officer

A16-year-old girl who stabbed a school welfare officer, leaving her seriously injured, has been given a seven-year custodial sentence by a judge who said she would probably have killed her victim if she had not been restrained.

Elisha Burkill attacked inclusion support officer Joy Simon, 61, in an office at Winterton Community Academy, near Scunthorpe, in September last year.

Judge Jeremy Richardson QC, sitting at Hull Crown Court, told the teenager: “I have no doubt that if you had not been restrained... you would have, in all likelihood, killed Mrs Simon. You very nearly did.”

The judge heard that Burkill came “flying” into Mrs Simon’s office on September 25 and stabbed her a number of times, repeatedly slamming the door as the support worker tried to escape.

He also heard that the attack came as a complete shock to the school and the teenager’s family, as Burkill was seen as a model, high-achieving pupil.

But the court also heard that Burkill was suffering from a serious depressive illness which she had hidden from her family.

The teenager showed no emotion as she was sentenced.

Judge Richardson gave Burkill an extended sentence due to her dangerousness, which added a five-year licence period to her custodial time.

The judge outlined how Mrs Simon suffered three stab wounds – one to her chest, one to her armpit and another which went straight through her cheek and has still not properly healed.

He said she lost 30% of her blood and her internal injuries were “an immediate threat to her life”.

He praised the efforts of staff who came to the support worker’s aid, including cleaner and lunchtime supervisor Kerry Ogg and teacher Mark Florence.

The judge said: “The attack was executed with ferocious but utterly unemotional zeal and determination.”

Judge Richardson said Burkill, who lived close to Mrs Simon, had singled out her victim for the “sustained and brutal” attack out of a “complete misapprehension” of her role. He said the attack was clearly pre-planned as she brought the three-inch-long knife to school.