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| Victim .. Chloe West |
AN A-LEVEL student who repeatedly stabbed his 14-year-old ex-girlfriend as she walked to school has been sent to a Young Offenders' Institution for 13 years.
Samuel Gayzer-Tomlinson, 18, dyed his hair to disguise himself before stalking his victim near the gates of her school in Stourbridge, West Mids, in April.
The 18-year-old aspiring vet knifed Chloe West at least 20 times outside Ridgewood High School, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
Tried to kill ex ... Samuel Gayzer-Tomlinson
He admitted attempted murder and pleaded guilty to wounding 16-year-old Ben Hudson, who tried to stop the attack.
Gayzer-Tomlinson's barrister denied he was a monster, insisting he had mental health problems.
Chloe, now 15, was left with knife wounds to her head, neck, face, back and shoulders.
Gayzer-Tomlinson, said to be "obsessed" with Chloe, went after her with a kitchen knife nearly eight inches long after she lost interest in him.
He drove to the scene in a Volkswagen Golf, then set about her.
Judge John Warner told him the "horrific" incident was aggravated by Chloe's young age and the fact that it happened in front of other pupils.
Hugh O'Brien-Quinn, prosecuting, said: "The defendant was unable to take this rejection and, it seems, began to plan his revenge."
She had told him she did not want to speak to him anymore. So after setting up two fake Facebook identities to contact her, he dyed his hair "blacky blue" and headed off to confront her.
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| Outside court ... Chloe's parents Nigel and Rose West |
"Chloe told him to get lost, at which point the defendant grabbed her in a headlock."
Witnesses described how Gayzer-Tomlinson, from Sedgley, West Mids, then punched, kicked and repeatedly stabbed her.
Mr O'Brien-Quinn described how three teachers eventually apprehended the attacker after hero Ben Hudson rugby-tackled him. Ben said he was glad of the guilty pleas that spared them the ordeal of giving evidence.
Although Chloe's victim impact statement was not read in court, Mr O'Brien-Quinn said: "It speaks volumes for the character of the young lady concerned and gives great hope for the future.
"She refuses to let (the attack) dominate or change her life."
Gayzer-Tomlinson was handed a restraining order, given a 12-year sentence for the attempted murder and a further year for wounding.
He claimed he had been "hearing voices" after his arrest and had been having suicidal thoughts.
Defence barrister Sarah-Jayne Buckingham said he may have been intending to take his own life had he been able to flee the scene.
She said: "He is not a monster. He is a young man who plainly had mental health problems."
Chloe's parents Rose and Nigel said in a statement: "It is hard to come to terms with the thought of someone wishing to kill our daughter — even harder to know that this attack was premeditated.
"Today brings an end to what has been a horrible time for us. We feel justice has been done. We can now move on to enjoy life and watch Chloe grow into a young woman who is full of life."
Acting Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jones, of West Midlands Police, said: "This was a horrific attack on a young girl as she walked to school in broad daylight.
"She sustained terrible injuries at the hands of a young man who she had known well and in many ways it is a miracle that we are not stood here now talking about a far more serious offence.
"I hope that knowing he is now facing a lengthy custodial sentence will offer some comfort to Chloe and her family as they continue to come to terms with this terrible ordeal."
