Boy stabbed man and assaulted woman at Bournemouth park

Teddy Sherriff was part of a large group of teenagers involved in the attack on the adults.

The woman, who was assaulted by the teen, described the boy as having “evil in his eyes”.

Sherriff stabbed her male friend at least three times with a blow to the chest rupturing his lung.

Judge William Mousley KC sentenced 16-year-old Sherriff to three years’ detention at a Bournemouth Crown Court hearing on Monday, July 24.

Teddy Sherriff, 16 and of Bournemouth, stabbed a man at a park (Image: Dorset Police)

The court heard the victims were in Beaufort Park, Southbourne, with other friends in the early evening on April 20.

A group of between 15 to 20 teenagers, including the defendant, and some dogs were also at the park.

“For some reason, an argument began and the group in which you were part of became abusive, then you personally became abusive and started threatening to stab [the man],” Judge Mousley KC said.

The judge said the man was surrounded, overpowered and set upon by the group.

The female victim saw her friend being attacked and tried to help him, but a can of beer was thrown at her.

“She tried to tell the people attacking him to stop,” Judge Mousley KC said.

“You responded to that by hitting her on the head with a motorcycle helmet causing swelling and bruising to her chin. She was in pain and suffered discomfort for several days afterwards.

“You returned to assaulting [the man]. You pulled out a knife and you stabbed him at least three times to the chest, under the arm and to one or both legs.

“He also suffered defensive wounds to his hands where he was trying to stop you. The group of which you were included ran off.”

The man was in hospital for four days. He developed an abscess that burst, he suffered with breathing difficulties, had cuts to his legs, and complained of fractured ribs.

Prosecuting, Rachel Bailey read victim personal statements. The man said he suffered flashbacks and was now worried when out in public.

In relation to the incident, he said it “blew up very quickly out of nowhere with no provocation”.

The woman said she had never experienced something like the attack in her life.

“Afterwards I was in shock,” she said. “This lasted a few days before it really dawned on me.”

She said they could have suffered more serious injuries during the incident.

“I cannot get the image of the defendant stabbing my friend out of my head,” the woman said.

“The pure hatred and evil in his eyes. The memory of this will always haunt me.”

Sherriff, who had five previous convictions for 11 offences, including possession of an offensive weapon, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon.

Mitigating, Jonathan Underhill said this incident was the first time his client’s offending had involved the use of a weapon.

The barrister said: “He is not naïve. He is aware of the severity which he faces.”

On the attack, Mr Underhill said it was an “unfortunate set of circumstances in which he has reacted very badly”.

He said Sherriff was receiving mental health support and had engaged well with services since the incident.

Acknowledging the prospect of detention, the barrister said: “Teddy has demonstrated and articulated through his letter to the court that he wants to properly use that time to progress matters for himself as much as he possibly can.”

Judge Mousley KC said there were significant aggravating factors in the case, particularly Sherriff’s previous convictions.

Mitigating factors included the defendant’s remorse, his apology and his determination to address his offending behaviour.

The judge said a pre-sentence report said the Bournemouth teenager presented a high risk of reoffending and high risk of causing serious harm to others.

Dorset Police said no one else was arrested in connection with the incident in the park.

Judge Mousley KC lifted reporting restrictions which prohibited the publication of the Sherriff's name after an application by the Daily Echo. Dorset Police released Sherriff's custody image to the Daily Echo earlier this month.