Boy locked up for stabbing 'rival gang member' on Dudley street

Fortunately the blade struck a rib or another bone and was prevented from damaging the internal organs of the 15-year-old, a judge heard.

The pair were members of two separate groups who met by chance while walking along Priory Street in Dudley on the early evening of September 21.

Post code gang rivalry may had played a part in the violence that followed, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

Two girls from the defendant’s crowd attacked a couple of girls from the other group, explained Mr Howard Searle, prosecuting.

The 15-year-old stepped in to break up the fight and was confronted by the defendant, who cannot be identified.

He appeared not to realise what had happened and asked why the other youth was shouting.

He pulled out an eight-inch knife from his bag while the victim attempted to explain the reason for his intervention, continued the prosecutor.

The defendant prodded the 15-year-old in the chest with the point of the blade without breaking the skin while being urged to keep calm by the victim’s brother.

“This seemed to irk the youth and he lunged out at the teenager again, this time wounding him in the right side of the chest but the blade hit a rib or bone and, as a result, did not cause any damage to the internal organs,” revealed Mr Searle.

“The injured party was confused and scared. He tried to take the knife off the defendant but he collapsed into the arms of his friends.”

The attacker fled but was identified on CCTV footage from earlier in the day and his distinctive clothing ensured he was spotted in Bird Cage Walk, Dudley the following day by a camera monitor.

The defendant was arrested by police who discovered he was still carrying the same knife.

The victim made a good recovery physically but suffered psychologically and lost confidence.

Mr Alexander Pritchard-Jones, defending, claimed the 16-year-old was vulnerable while living in a different post code to his friends but added: “There is hope he will not have these tensions for much longer because his father is likely to be moved to another address.”

The defendant admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of a knife.