A SCHOOL girl has been jailed  for attempting to murder two teachers and a pupil at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, Ammanford.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced on Monday (April 28) by Judge Paul Thomas sitting at  Swansea Crown Court. 

“What you did in school almost a year ago to the day, has caused a large number of people a great deal of harm and upset,” said Judge Thomas.

“It’s enormously affected many lives including your own.

“The simple fact is, you tried to kill three people.  You came to school that day planning to do that, as far as Mrs Elias was concerned.  You hated her.

“What you did, you did in full view of so many other pupils, at a time when there were a lot of people about.  And that wasn’t a coincidence

“You wanted as many of your fellow pupils as possible to see what you intended to do.  You picked the time and the place to attack her.

“I’ve watched you carefully as you’ve sat in court, and I’ve formed opinions.  I believe that what you did was, above all, for attention which perhaps you haven’t had from others in the past.  And I think you actually enjoyed the reaction and the publicity.”

Judge Thomas said that after being placed in a police van outside the school gates following her arrest, the defendant said  that this was ‘one way to become famous’.

“This was what you really thought and continue to think,” continued Judge Thomas.

“I don’t think you’re genuinely sorry for what you did and I don’t think you really care much about what others have suffered by what you did to them.

“I know your life hasn’t been a straightforward one by any means, and that you have a very complex personality.  But many children are in similar positions and they don’t behave how you did that day.  They don’t try to kill two teachers and a classmate.”

Judge Thomas said the defendant remains a potential risk to others at the secure unit where she has been detained since the offence, having made a serious threat to another.

Emergency services were called to the school on Wednesday, April 24, 2024,  following reports that three people had been injured. Two teachers – Fiona Elias and Liz Hopkin – along with a child, were admitted to hospital for treatment after being stabbed by the child.

Earlier that morning, CCTV cameras captured the girl, who was aged 13 at the time,  stabbing the hall floor with a knife. She was then seen speaking to Mrs Elias on two occasions – inside and outside the school building – before attacking her with a knife. When Mrs Hopkin stepped in to help, she was also injured.

A few minutes later, after being taken away from the two teachers, the girl was seen attacking a child with the same knife.

In her final summing up,  barrister Caroline Rees KC, described the defendant  as ‘a very complex young girl’.

“Her behaviour falls far beyond the ordinary,” she told the court.  “We are dealing with a very complicated girl.”

Caroline Rees said that a psychological report described the defendant’s childhood as being ‘considerably adverse’ and that throughout the court hearing, the child had sat in the dock with her head bowed, as she continued to draw.

“There’s clearly a lot of work to be done here, but the more time she spent with her psychologist, the more she appeared to engage,” said Caroline Rees.  “She is so young, but there is a real possibility for change.  And for the first time, she will have the means of doing that.”

The defendant was sentenced to 15 years in detention, half of which will be served in custody, the remaining on licence upon her release.

”This means that the rest of your childhood and early adulthood will be spent in custody,” concluded Judge Thomas.

Following today’s sentencing, Detective Chief Superintendent Ross Evans of Dyfed-Powys Police said: “While this sentence marks the end of the criminal justice proceedings, and a year since the incident occurred, I understand that for the victims the impact remains ongoing.

“All three suffered physical harm at the hands of the defendant and although wounds can heal with time, it will take considerably longer to recover from the mental trauma her actions caused.

“We have heard from the victim impact statements that they relive the events on April 24, 2024 daily, which evidences the profound impact it had on their wellbeing. As we now leave the legal proceedings behind us, I wish all the victims well in their recovery.

“For the students who unfortunately witnessed such an act of violence as they went about their day, I sincerely hope they are still able to view their school as a place of safety, and that today’s sentence shows that any attempt to compromise school safety will not be tolerated.

“Finally, I would like to thank all our emergency services colleagues who responded on the day, along with the teachers and staff at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman. Thanks also to Carmarthenshire County Council for the professional way in which they dealt with the incident and to the local community for the support they offered to pupils.”

A TEENAGE girl who attempted to murder two teachers and a pupil during a stabbing spree at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in Ammanford is being sentenced today (April 28) at Swansea Crown Court.

The 14-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, took her father’s multi-tool to school and launched a frenzied attack during morning break on 24 April 2024.

Deputy head teacher Fiona Elias, teacher Liz Hopkin, and a female pupil were all seriously injured in the attack.

The defendant admitted possession of a bladed article and three counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent but denied attempted murder. A jury found her guilty on all counts earlier this year.

During the trial, the court heard how the girl approached Mrs Elias in the school yard, said “I’m going to f****** kill you,” and stabbed her in the arms. When Mrs Hopkin intervened, the teenager turned on her, stabbing her in the neck, back, legs, and arms. She then attacked a female pupil before being restrained by staff.

Terrified children witnessed the incident, and some later gave evidence. CCTV footage from the school captured the shocking events.

The teenager told the jury she had been bullied at school and said she often felt “anxious and scared”. She claimed she had no intention of hurting anyone, but the jury rejected her account.

Judge Paul Thomas KC told the court today that if the defendant had been an adult, she would have faced a sentence of between 20 and 30 years, with a starting point of 25 years. However, as the defendant is a child, different sentencing guidelines must be applied.

The court heard that the girl poses a “medium to high risk” to others and that she had been involved in a “very disturbing incident” while in accommodation awaiting sentence.

The judge said the future for the defendant was “uncertain” and noted that she presented a risk both in her current setting and potentially even more so outside of it.

Defence barrister Caroline Rees KC asked the court to consider the girl’s young age and “low” level of maturity, saying she still had “a great deal of growing up” to do before adulthood.

Judge Thomas confirmed that reporting restrictions preventing the identification of the teenager would remain in place.

Sentencing is ongoing.

PETER GILMORE, a van driver who ignored police warnings about his dangerous driving, went on to cause a serious head-on collision.

Gilmore, aged 51, of Bryn Salem, Felinfach, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court following the crash, which took place on the B4337 near Talsarn on February 1.

The court heard that Dyfed-Powys Police had received multiple reports about Gilmore’s erratic driving earlier that day. Concerned motorists reported that he was swerving across the road and tailgating other vehicles during a 14-mile journey from Aberystwyth to Llanrhystud and onto the B4337.

At one point, as Gilmore attempted to overtake a lorry, he veered into the path of an oncoming car. The driver of that vehicle was rushed to hospital with a fractured sternum, two broken ribs, and whiplash injuries.

Judge Geraint Walters described the case as “truly disturbing” during sentencing.

“Earlier that day, you were pulled over by the police on suspicion of drug-driving,” the judge said. “Despite that, you made the reckless decision to get back behind the wheel. It was obvious you were significantly impaired by substances.”

Gilmore was jailed for two years and four months and banned from driving for six years and two months. He must also complete an extended re-test before being allowed back on the road.

The court heard that around 5:00pm, officers received several urgent calls from the public about Gilmore’s driving. Witnesses said he almost collided head-on with another car, narrowly missed a bus, and was seen weaving dangerously across the road.

The crash occurred when Gilmore attempted to overtake a lorry and drove straight into the path of a Hyundai, leaving the other driver with serious injuries and no chance to avoid the collision. She was treated at Bronglais Hospital.

When police arrived, they noted Gilmore was slurring his speech and had abnormal pupils. Although he passed a roadside breath test, he tested positive for cannabis. He later refused to provide a sample for further analysis at hospital.

Gilmore admitted to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and failing to provide a sample.

It also emerged in court that he had been pulled over earlier that day in Aberystwyth and arrested on suspicion of drug-driving. In a separate hearing at Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court in March, he was banned from driving for three years after admitting that offence.

Defending, Ian Ibrahim said Gilmore fully accepted responsibility for his actions.

Sentencing him, Judge Walters said it was sheer “luck” that nobody was killed, and warned that Gilmore could easily have faced a much more serious charge.