'Dangerous' youth who murdered Walsall teenager is back in court after vicious attack on fellow inmate
A youth jailed for the murder of a Walsall teenager has returned to court over a joint attack on an inmate at a Young Offenders Institute.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is currently serving a 15-year minimum sentence for the shocking killing of defenceless Jack Lowe, also known as Jack Norton, in Darlaston's 'Cookie Park' in Cook Street in December 2022.
But while being held at Wetherby Young Offender Institute in Yorkshire he and another youth launched a planned joint attack on an inmate last year, stabbing the victim repeatedly to the face with makeshift knives.
Sentencing him at Leeds Crown Court, Recorder Guy Kearl KC described it as a “vicious joint attack that was persistent and sustained”.
The court heard that the incident on December 6 last year was caught on CCTV.
The co-accused was the first to attack, with the defendant then jumping in, both of them aiming jabs to his head and face with their weapons.
When the victim fell to the floor, the co-accused kicked and stamped on him with the defendant continuing to stab him.
The victim was able to get to his feet and flee down the stairs, pursued by the pair, but they were stopped and overpowered by staff.
The 17-year-old defendant eventually handed over the makeshift knife, made from a sharpened chunk of plastic. His co-accused had a sharpened pen top.
The victim suffered three puncture wounds to his head and injuries to his hands. He did not wish to make a statement after the attack.
Mitigating, Charles Blatchford said there was “background” to the attack in that there had been some “pushing, shoving and provocation” from the victim.
His said his client had expressed remorse and disgust with himself for becoming involved.
Recorder Kearl told the boy he was a dangerous offender and said a consecutive sentence to his existing 15-year term for murder was appropriate.
He gave him three additional years, which will only begin once the 15-year sentence has been completed.
The boy had only just turned 15 when he and Brandon Price stabbed Jack Lowe, also known as Jack Norton, to death on December 7, 2022 in the field off Franchise Street in Darlaston - almost two years to the day that the latest attack was carried out.
Jack, aged 18, who had links to Alumwell, had been out shopping with friends that day when he met his killers in the street afterwards. He was stabbed by Price, who was aged 19 at the time, egged on by the younger defendant who was upset that Jack did not recognise him.
After delivering the fatal blow, the pair ran out of the park “celebrating”, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
