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Teen who stabbed disabled Sittingbourne schoolgirl '99 times' has his sentence cut

A teenager who carried out a "vicious and brutal" attack on a disabled schoolgirl has had his sentence cut.

The 17-year-old attacker, who can't be named for legal reasons, had stabbed his terrified victim at least 99 times after luring her to a secluded park known as The Orchards in Sittingbourne.

Police searced the undergrowth for clues in the brutal stabbing of a disabled teenage girl in Sittingbourne. Picture: John Nurden
Police searced the undergrowth for clues in the brutal stabbing of a disabled teenage girl in Sittingbourne. Picture: John Nurden

Last week at Maidstone Crown Court he received a sentence in which he will be held in custody for life.

He pleaded guilty to attempted murder and was given a discretionary life sentence and told he will be "detained at her Majesty's Pleasure" for at least 10 years before being considered for release.

But Judge Philip Statman has reduced the 10 years to seven and a half, admitting he had made an error in calculating the minimum sentence.

The prosecutor said that over the night of July 21 and 22 last year the victim was subjected to "a vicious, brutal and sustained attack where she was stabbed all over her body."

"He met his victim at her back gate in the early hours. As they walked the two of them were having a laugh and on one occasion he gave her a piggyback."

The prosecutor said the attacker also carried a bag with him - which is believed to have contained weapons and a change of clothing in which he planned to kill her.

Police cars closed a road in the hunt for the brutal attacker of a disabled teenage girl in Sittingbourne who was stabbed 99 times. Picture: John Nurden (55367445)
Police cars closed a road in the hunt for the brutal attacker of a disabled teenage girl in Sittingbourne who was stabbed 99 times. Picture: John Nurden (55367445)

At the orchard he made an excuse to use the toilet, disappeared and then returned when he grabbed her mouth before beginning his stabbing frenzy.

The victim described her attacker as "looking evil" and estimated the attack continued for up to three minutes.

"She was trying to cry for help and when the attack stopped she fell to the ground. He then took her telephone and threw it in a bush and left her for dead, alone in the orchard and bleeding from 100 wounds.

"She lay injured for between six and seven hours, until 7.10am the following morning when she was discovered by a man walking his dog."

When sentencing him last week the judge told him: "You had a murderous attempt in your head. This was a savage and brutal attack which was premeditated.

"You knew just how brave she had been in tackling her disability. Yet you used ugly words towards her.

"Your victim remained in her foetal position in The Orchards for six hours yet your victim fought for her life and won"

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