Sunderland Knife Attacker Stabs 7-Year-Old Boy While Claiming to Be 'The Devil'
A violent offender who was on bail for a previous rape conviction has been sentenced after launching a horrific knife attack on a seven-year-old boy and two women in Sunderland, during which he told the child he was 'the devil'.
Frenzied Kitchen Knife Assault Leaves Child Seriously Injured
Byron Stubbs, 25, armed himself with a kitchen knife before suddenly and unexpectedly launching the violent assault. The court heard how Stubbs, who has serious mental health issues, stabbed the young boy in the stomach, arm and hand during the frenzied attack.
The abdominal wound was particularly severe, penetrating the child's liver with fat protruding from the injury. Medical evidence presented at Newcastle Crown Court indicated that had the injury penetrated any deeper, there would have been a significant risk of fatality.
Prosecutor Jolyon Perks told the court that Stubbs had called 999 after the attack, admitting he had stabbed three people and saying 'he tried to kill them'.
Women Injured While Trying to Protect Child
The court heard harrowing details of how two women were also attacked during the incident. One woman was taken by surprise when Stubbs aimed blows at her throat and face, resulting in a stab wound to her ear.
A second woman attempted to shield the child from the attack by getting between them, suffering multiple injuries including:
- A wound to her finger
- Scratches to her forearm
- A wound to her hand
- A stab wound to her arm
- A bruise to her elbow
- Abrasions to her breast and back of the head
Traumatic Aftermath for Young Victim
The child's mother provided a devastating victim impact statement describing how her son's life has been fundamentally altered by the attack. 'He was a happy little boy until this happened,' she told the court.
She explained that his behaviour has 'massively declined' since the incident, with the child becoming terrified when someone is behind him - likely due to being stabbed from behind during the attack.
'He is petrified of knives and struggles to deal with situations such as his parents washing dishes,' the mother continued. 'Seeing my child screaming in agony and terrified after being stabbed is something I will never get out of my head. We thought we were going to lose our son.'
Mental Health Issues and Previous Offences
The court heard that Stubbs had been sectioned in 2022 but had continued drinking and consuming drugs, exacerbating his mental health symptoms. His family described him as being 'let down by the system'.
Stubbs had been drinking for several days before the incident, which had worsened his psychosis. He had shown concerning behaviour about the existence of God and the devil in the lead-up to the attack.
Stubbs, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to:
- Attempted murder of the seven-year-old boy
- Wounding with intent of the two women
- Raping a woman after she fell unconscious while heavily intoxicated
The court heard that Stubbs had one previous conviction for blackmail and had recorded the rape attack before deleting it.
Sentencing and Defence Statement
Stubbs was sentenced to a hospital order with a restriction order, meaning he will be held in a secure hospital. He must also sign the sex offenders register.
Defence barrister Josh Normanton said: 'It's difficult not to be moved by the thought of a seven-year-old in his Christmas pyjamas having to face what he faced. Mr Stubbs is very sorry for what has happened.'
He added: 'He is suffering from a serious mental illness. He has a psychotic illness, likely to be schizophrenia. It was very unfortunate the child was there when this happened. It doesn't appear to be any sort of premeditated attack on him.'
When police arrived at the scene in Sunderland, officers found Stubbs standing outside in the street with blood on his hands and clothes, with significant blood spatter inside the house. One of the adult victims had also called 999, with the child heard in the background 'in significant pain and distress' following the attack.
