Shocking CCTV footage has captured the moment a 14-year-old boy chased a schoolgirl into a shop and repeatedly stabbed her after becoming “obsessed” with her.
The teenager had been seen following the girl around Cirencester, Gloucestershire, before pursuing her into the store on March 15 this year.
Once inside, footage shows him approaching the girl before pulling a knife from his pocket and grabbing her.
He then stabbed her multiple times as the terrified schoolgirl struggled to escape.
A shopkeeper tried to intervene, but the teenager struck him in the back with the knife.
The girl eventually broke free and fled into the street, where she ran for help.
She suffered cuts to her neck, hands and face, as well as bruising to her back.
The attacker ran from the scene but was later found by police close to the shop, still carrying the knife in his pocket.
Teen became ‘obsessed’ after she rejected him
Bristol Crown Court, sitting as a youth court, heard that the boy had become obsessed with the girl, who attended the same school.
The court was told that after she rejected his advances in December 2025, he began using fake social media accounts to contact her.
Then, on March 15, he lay in wait in a car park before launching the attack in broad daylight.
The teenager later pleaded guilty to wounding with intent, inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent, and possession of a bladed article in a public place.
He has now been given a 12-month referral order and a three-year restraining order.
Victim says attack has left her afraid to be alone
In a victim impact statement, the schoolgirl described the lasting psychological impact of the attack.
“I’m scared and nervous anywhere that I go,” she said, explaining that she now flinches when someone suddenly raises a hand near her.
She said she had been left in shock and did not leave her home for several days after the incident.
The girl also revealed that she has suffered recurring nightmares in which the attack happens in different places.
“I can’t stop thinking about it,” she said.
She added that the experience had affected her ability to trust people and that she is now dropped off at work because she does not want to be outside alone.
“I shouldn’t have to feel like this as a teenager in my own area,” she said.
Police describe ‘frenzied’ broad-daylight attack
Detective Superintendent Ian Fletcher, Head of Serious and Complex Investigations, described the incident as a “frenzied attack that took place in broad daylight”.
He said the girl had been “very, very lucky” to escape with only minor injuries after being stabbed multiple times.
“We could easily have been looking at a fatal incident if that knife had pierced her anywhere else,” he said.
Fletcher said his hope was that the victim would eventually be able to move forward from what had happened and begin rebuilding her life after the deeply traumatic attack.