A 16-year-old boy on his way to school was cornered and ‘occasionally’ stabbed by a robber

A boy was stabbed as he walked to school before an exam by a robber who asked for his coaches. Jamal Adam-Neale told an unidentified accomplice “give me the knife, I’ll do it” before he “occasionally” aimed two blows at the teenager with the blade.

He was later caught after police saw him riding his blood-stained bike through Liverpool city centre, after which the gun fell out of his shorts. A judge has now warned the thug he could face life in prison if he continues to commit violent crimes.

Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday afternoon, Tuesday, that the 16-year-old victim was walking to school along Smithdown Road shortly before 7am on May 20 this year to review his pre GCSE English exam later the same day. But as he approached a bus stop near the junction with Alderson Road in Wavertree, he noticed two men on bicycles “looking at him”.

Arthur Gibson, prosecuting, described how one of the attackers grabbed him and threatened him with a knife before demanding his bank cards and trainers. But the schoolboy refused, prompting Adam-Neale to tell his associate: “Give me the knife, I’ll do it.”

The 19-year-old, of no fixed address, was then handed the gun and was seen on CCTV “moving towards the victim’s torso”. Although this initial strike did not connect, he followed it up with a second swing of the blade that caught him in the upper right arm.

Both attackers then left, while the applicant ran home. He was later taken to hospital and had a 1cm wound cleaned and stitched.

In a statement read to the court on his behalf, he outlined how he had missed his exam as a result of the robbery and will be left with a scar near his bicep. He added: “A couple of times at school the experience came back and I had to leave the room. I was going to school to come back and do an exam but I ended up going to hospital. I could have died from the injury .it was next to a thoroughfare and it could have been a lot worse.”

Adam-Neale was wearing a “distinctive jacket” at the time of the attack, which was captured on CCTV, and was seen wearing the same garment on Nelson Street in Chinatown at around 2.45pm. He was riding his bicycle again, which was observed to have blood stains on it.

The teenager was then arrested, with the knife – which had the words ‘cold steel’ inscribed on the blade – later falling out of his shorts as he was searched. Adam-Neale’s previous convictions include four months for possessing a bladed article in a public place in 2021, before he received 52 months for wounding with intent in November of the same year.

Matthew O’Neill, defending, told the court: ‘There is no doubt that this was a terrifying experience, one where fortunately the injury was not as serious as it could have been. He is a young man. He is someone who suffered adverse experiences as a child. At the age of five, his mother died sadly and suddenly.

“He was then put into foster care for a few years until his father was able to look after him. He’s someone who clearly has anger issues, but he’s someone who’s motivated.

“We have now reached the point where, he tells me, his time in prison will be used as productively as possible and he is keen to ensure that he becomes a better person so that he does not commit future offences. . Mr. Adam-Neale’s personality has some positive aspects.

“Unfortunately, until he addresses the anger issues he has had, he will always present a risk to the public. The defendant can be worked with in custody to resolve these issues.”

Adam-Neale admitted wounding with intent, attempted robbery and possessing a bladed article in a public place. Appearing in the dock wearing a turquoise Under Armor T-shirt, he was jailed for six years and given a further three years on licence.

Sentencing, Judge David Potter said: “He was unlucky to walk past you and someone else. As soon as he passed by, you decided to rob him. He was asked for his bank cards and trainers at knifepoint. Refused. stabbed him deliberately and almost causally.

“That didn’t connect, but a second went into his upper arm. You inflicted a wound which required no medical treatment other than the wound being stitched up, but the risk of serious harm is obvious and your intent to do him serious harm is evident. by your guilty plea.

“He reflects on this incident and believes he could have died or suffered more serious injuries. He has struggled to sleep and lost his appetite and his mother is very worried about him. It is clear that knife crime is still. a substantial problem on Merseyside It has a devastating impact on the lives of victims, families and communities – not only through loss of life, but life-changing injuries, both physical and psychological trauma.

“You are still young. I also take into account the experiences you had in your childhood. I accept that since being remanded in custody you have used your time constructively and you hope to use this sentence in a way that will mean you are less likely to offend on release.

“I must warn you. If he commits another offense of wounding under section 18, there will be a life sentence.” Adam-Neale will have to serve two-thirds of the six-year term behind bars before becoming eligible for release. He was also handed a serious violence reduction order for 10 years and a restraining order for the same period.