Judges reject teenager's appeal over schoolgirl attack case (From Dudley News)

Judges reject teenager's appeal over schoolgirl attack case

12:20pm Monday 30th July 2012 in Sedgley

TOP judges have dismissed an appeal by Sedgley teenager Samuel Gayzer-Tomlinson who stabbed Stourbridge schoolgirl Chloe West 20 times outside Ridgewood High School.

Gayzer-Tomlinson, aged 19, challenged the 13-year detention term he was given at Wolverhampton Crown Court last September for stabbing Chloe about the face, head and neck after she dumped him.

The teenager, from Turls Hill Road, admitted attempted murder, unlawful wounding and possession of an offensive weapon after the attack which left Chloe needing 48 stitches.

But Sarah Buckingham, representing Gayzer-Tomlinson, claimed the sentencing judge took insufficient account of the stress the troubled teen was under after splitting up with Chloe ahead of his A-levels and said if he had received mental health treatment in the weeks before the attack - the stabbing might never have happened.

Despite hearing of his "affected mental state", senior judges Mr Justice Langstaff, Lord Justice Davis and Mr Justice Burton backed the sentence.

The appeal court heard the attack was the culmination of a vicious revenge plan hatched by Gayzer-Tomlinson who met Chloe, then 14, at a stables.

After the schoolgirl ended the brief relationship, which was mainly conducted over the internet, A level student Gayzer-Tomlinson - who was awaiting his driving test - secretly bought a car and false number plates, died his hair and ditched his glasses.

He then drove to Chloe’s school and launched a frenzied attack on the Ridgewood pupil just yards from the school gates.

It was only due to the bravery of schoolboy Ben Hudson, then 16, that Chloe was not more seriously injured, the court heard.

Brave Ben, now at King Edward VI College, was praised for his actions by the sentencing judge and was nominated to carry the Olympic torch in Wolverhampton on June 30 in recognition of his heroism.

Chloe battled to put the horrific incident behind her but has been "reliving" the incident since hearing Gayzer-Tomlinson was to appeal, the court heard.

Mr Justice Langstaff said: “The attack was pre-planned, the victim was vulnerable and the attack took place in a public place near other vulnerable witnesses, children on their way to school. It also involved an attack on others.”

He said the only question raised was whether the 13-year sentence was too long but he said he was “not persuaded” that it was and he dismissed the appeal.