
Teenager claims he was bullied before stabbing boy, 15, to death
The teenager is accused of murdering Harvey Willgoose, also 15, at All Saints Catholic High School in February.
Giving evidence at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday, he told jurors he was subjected to racist bullying on social media and taunts about a medical condition.
The teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, said the bullying affected how he controls his temper.
Asked by his barrister Gul Nawaz Hussain KC how this affected his temper, the boy said: 'I can get angry quickly, upset quickly.
'I can't control it.'
The boy said he had been bullied online by 'strangers' and by pupils at All Saints, including 'racist bullying'.
The barrister asked him: 'When bullying was happening on social media, did you feel you could get away from it?'
The boy said no.
When Mr Hussain asked him about the worst threat he had received on social media, the defendant replied: 'Someone said, 'I'll stab you up'.'
He said he began to believe the threats and, when his barrister asked 'how did that make you feel?', the boy said: 'Scared.'
The boy told the jury about his home life, explaining how his mother had mental health problems and his father was often not there.
He said the house was not clean and it was often left to him to do laundry and make meals for him and his siblings.
The defendant said he was also hit by his father.
Teachers have told the jury that the defendant had 'anger issues' and the boy admitted he 'cannot control my anger sometimes'.
Mr Hussain asked: 'Has the bullying affected your anger?'
'Yes,' the boy replied.
He said he did not tell his mother or father about the bullying because they 'wouldn't care'.
The jury has been shown CCTV footage of Harvey being stabbed in the courtyard at All Saints during the lunch break on Feb 3.
The court has heard that the teenager has admitted manslaughter but denies murder.
He has also admitted possession of a knife on school premises.
The defendant was asked about an incident in November 2024, which was also captured on CCTV, in which he punched a computer monitor after he was accused of using social media on his phone during a lesson.
Asked by Mr Hussain why he did this, he said: 'Because I was angry.'
He said he was not using the phone for social media and he thought it was 'unfair' he had been given a sanction by the teacher without her giving him a chance to explain himself.
Addressing the jury last week, Mr Hussain said: '[The defendant] did not set out to kill or seriously hurt anyone.
'The defence say [the defendant's] actions that day were the end result of a long period of bullying, poor treatment and violence, things that built one upon another until he lost control and did tragically what we've all seen.'
The trial continues.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Independent
14 minutes ago
- The Independent
Girl suffers life-changing injuries after freak accident at funfair
An 18-year-old woman suffered potentially life-changing injuries after her hair reportedly became caught in a funfair ride. The incident occurred at the Netley Marsh Steam and Craft show in Hampshire shortly before 11pm on Saturday, 26 July. A nurse described the injury as a 'degloving incident', where three-quarters of the girl's scalp was reportedly ripped off. Emergency services attended, and the woman was taken to hospital for treatment. Police are investigating the incident and are liaising with the Health and Safety Executive, while show organisers are cooperating with authorities.


BBC News
15 minutes ago
- BBC News
Van driver dies after A47 truck crash in East Winch
A man in his 30s has died after a crash between a van and a services were called to the A47 in East Winch, Norfolk, at 13:50 BST on Wednesday after the white Vauxhall Movano van and orange DAF truck driver of the van was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn and transferred to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Police this morning confirmed the man had died and it renewed appeals for witnesses to come forward. The single carriageway section of the A47 was closed for more than 14 hours - until 04:30 the next day - as emergency repairs were carried followed another serious crash in the same area earlier in the month which left a motorcyclist with serious injuries. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.


BBC News
15 minutes ago
- BBC News
Emergency worker assaulted in York disorder incident
Four people have been arrested after an emergency worker was assaulted in a city centre were called to what they described as a "large altercation" in Low Ousegate, York, at 19:45 BST on Yorkshire Police said the arrests were made for "various offences" including affray and assault of an emergency worker.A police spokesperson said three of the four people had since been bailed with conditions which prevented them from entering York city centre. Supt Ed Haywood-Noble said: "We are committed to tackling all types of unacceptable and criminal behaviour in our city centre at night."The vast majority of people are using the city's bars without issue or incident and those who are intent on committing crime in York are not welcome."Anyone who witnessed the incident has been urged to contact police. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.