Teens plead guilty to hammer attack outside school

Four teenage boys have pleaded guilty to assaulting a 14-year-old with a claw hammer outside a school.

The victim, a boy, who was also punched and kicked, sustained a cut to his head in the attack outside St Joseph's Catholic College, Swindon, in March 2024.

Appearing at Swindon Youth Court earlier, all four defendants pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent, while one of them also pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon.

All four were granted conditional bail and will be sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on 27 June.

The court was told how it was "a planned attack" of "a serious nature", with the four teenagers walking to the school together, some wearing balaclavas.

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