A man has been jailed for the attempted murder of a nine-year-old girl in Christchurch, after being found guilty at an earlier trial.
Jordan Wilkes, aged 29 and of Christchurch, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court today to 30 years in prison with an extended five-year licence period.
The court heard that the attack happened at 5.55pm on Tuesday 20 August 2024, when officers were called to Glider Close following a report that a child had been stabbed.
The girl had been sitting on a staircase with a friend when Wilkes approached and stabbed her in the shoulder, neck, and leg.
Both girls ran to a nearby flat where the occupants provided safety and called the police.
Emergency services arrived shortly after, provided first aid, and arrested Wilkes at the scene.
Detective Chief Inspector Aimee Schock from BCP CID said: “This was a horrific knife attack on a defenceless young girl that could easily have had fatal consequences.”
She praised the victim and her friend for their bravery in helping to bring the offender to justice.
Senior Crown Prosecutor Kelly Newman said the case was deeply distressing and praised the strength shown by both girls throughout the legal process.
The family has released a statement following the sentencing:
Our little girl did not have a choice on 20 August 2024… Together we did not choose to experience this trauma, and we did not choose what we will endure for the rest of our lives… We MUST… because of the choice a heinous and disturbing fanatic of monstrous proportion, who chose an innocent and vulnerable little girl as his victim, subsequently plunging our family into a living nightmare.
But be assured; although it has been extremely arduous, the resilience, bravery, endurance, strength, power, determination and much more our little girl has shown from the very seconds of the attack through to where we stand today; will continue to diminish his existence.
We are extremely fortunate, beyond words and feelings to still have our little girl with us today, given the severity of her injuries our little girl is currently and undoubtedly will experience further challenges and difficulties for the rest her life, of which we are uncertain of the impact on her.
Justice has been delivered today and knowing this person’s liberties have been withdrawn and children in our community are now safe from him; we can close out this chapter. We are hugely grateful for the 12 members from society who saw through any defence and unanimously delivered a guilty verdict and gave our family and the community the opportunity to see today’s results.
We would like to express our heart-felt thanks and love from across our community and neighbouring communities, who provided support to our family either professionally or socially.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank so many of the services involved, that have helped our little girl personally, our family and our community as a whole.
A special thank you to Dorset Police, CPS and the prosecution team for ensuring that justice has been served, but also for the continued support that Dorset Police are giving to our family.
We extend our thanks to the following, for without their continued expertise and commitment, we might not be where we are today:
- Dorset Ambulance Service
- Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance
- Southampton General Hospital
- Physiotherapist at Christchurch Hospital
- Victim Support
- Early Help/Outreach
- Social Services
- BCP Council
- CAMHS
- Our girl’s school – specifically to the headteacher and TAs
- Our employers for their understanding and patience
- Our neighbours
- Family and friends.
Also, a special mention to NAPA Auto Parts and East Christchurch Sports and Social Club Football Team, who independently donated funds to the family for our little girl to enjoy.