3 teenagers sentenced over attack at Herrington Country Park
3 teenagers have been sentenced to over 10 years in youth detention between them - for their parts in an attack on a boy in a Sunderland park
3 teenagers have been sentenced to over 10 years in youth detention between them - for their parts in an attack on a boy in a Sunderland park.
On the evening of June 6, 2025, officers were informed by the ambulance service that a 15-year-old boy had sustained serious injuries consistent with being stabbed at Herrington Country Park.
The victim was taken to hospital for treatment of his injuries and was thankfully later discharged.
Northumbria Police immediately launched a full investigation into the incident and swiftly arrested two boys – both now aged 17 – and a girl now aged 16.
The investigation found that girl had lured the victim to the park before one of the boys then stabbed him.
All three suspects were subsequently charged with attempted murder, with the girl then admitting the offence in a hearing at Newcastle Crown Court.
Both boys admitted grievous bodily harm with intent but denied attempted murder. They stood trial over the attempted murder charge against them in November 2025 and were both found not guilty following a trial, also held at Newcastle Crown Court.
Today (Friday, April 17), all three defendants – who cannot be named for legal reasons – were sentenced.
The teenage girl was sentenced to seven years and four months in youth detention. One of the boys who admitted grievous bodily harm was sentenced to two years and 10 months in youth detention, while the other was sentenced to a 24-month detention and training order.
Following the teenagers’ sentencing, the officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Inspector John Hopkins, of Northumbria Police’s Sunderland Criminal Investigation Department, said: “The victim in this incident has been through a truly horrendous ordeal.
“We hope now the case has concluded and those responsible have been sentenced that he and his family are able to take some closure from the events of the past 10 months.”
Det Insp Hopkins added: “The actions of the three offenders involved in this case were abhorrent and the victim is extremely fortunate not to have died.
“Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our officers who carried out such a thorough investigation, we have now been able to secure convictions against those responsible.
“I sincerely hope that this case serves as a reminder of the serious harm that carrying knives can do.
“We would ask that parents in our region who have concerns that the young people they care for may be getting involved in knife crime to have those difficult conversations about the extreme dangers that come with deciding to arm yourself with a weapon.
“In no way does carrying a knife protect you, in fact it puts you and others around you potentially in harm’s way and can have a devastating impact on your life and the lives of many others in the process.”