Boy, 15, accused of violent knifepoint sex attacks on four schoolgirls, all 13 faces trial

A 15-year-old boy accused of a series of violent and sexual attacks on schoolgirls will face trial next month.  

The teenager, who cannot be named, allegedly attacked four girls, all 13, in the Thornton Heath area of south London in a spate of attacks between November 2019 and November 2020.

The youth, from Croydon, appeared at a pre-trial hearing today at Croydon Crown Court via a video link and denies two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, two counts of sexual assault, assault by penetration, common assault and robbery.

The trial will be held at Croydon Crown Court next month after today’s pre-trial hearing

It is alleged he knifed one of the girls in Thornton Heath, south London at 8:50am on November 4 last year and struck again nearby in an almost identical attack at around 8:23am two days later.

The first victim was knifed in the thigh from behind while the second girl was stabbed in the arm from behind.

He is also charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in broad daylight on 21 November 2019.

On 2 September 2020 he punched a mother in the face then sexually assaulted her 13-year-old daughter in front of her by trying to remove her underwear, it is alleged.

The boy, 15, is alleged to have attacked four girls all aged 13 between November 2019 and November 2020.

He is also accused of pushing a 13-year-old girl into an alleyway on 6 October last year, pulling out a knife, stealing her headphones, grabbing her chest and trying to kiss her.

The teenager was arrested on 8 November 2020 after police released CCTV images of the alleged attacker jogging down a residential road after the second incident.

Jason Seetal, prosecuting, earlier said the offences ‘all convey some form of sexual undertone to them and show a nature of violence.’

He remains in youth detention accommodation ahead of his trial at Croydon Crown Court on April 12.