Hero firefighter saves teen’s life after a pair of thugs found guilty of stabbing and robbing schoolboy in Lewisham

A pair of teenagers who robbed and stabbed a 14-year-old schoolboy have been jailed.

The boys – aged 17 and 15 – carried out their attack on the victim as he walked home from school on 8 May in Lewisham.

The victim was with two friends in Longbridge Way at around 4pm when he was approached by both suspects, Woolwich Crown Court heard.

They demanded he hand over his possessions but he initially refused. The 17-year-old suspect punched the victim in the head and the 15-year-old stabbed him twice in the leg, severing a sciatic nerve.

Both suspects ran off with the victim’s property after the attack including his phone.

The incident took place across the road from Lewisham Fire Station and Craig Fenner, the London Fire Brigade Watch Manager, witnessed the attack.

He rushed over and administered first aid, assisted by other members of the crew, using his own t-shirt to stem the flow of blood before the victim was taken to hospital.

PC Gary Sanders of the South East Borough Command Unit led the investigation said: “If it weren’t for the quick thinking and decisive actions of the London Fire Brigade Watch Manager and the crew at Lewisham Fire Station this attack could have had fatal consequences.

“As well as saving this young man’s life, they were also able to provide constructive evidence which enabled us to progress this investigation quickly.

“The suspects’ casual use of violence to intimidate their victim was shocking and I am pleased these two dangerous individuals have been convicted and now must face the consequences of their actions.”

The sciatic nerve is the longest and widest nerve in the human body. It connects the nervous system for nearly the whole of the skin of the leg, the muscles at the back of the thigh, and those of the leg and foot.

Officers from Greenwich launched an investigation and identified both suspects – they were arrested on May 15. During a search of the 17-year-old’s house, the victim’s mobile phone was recovered. The pair were then charged.

On July 13 at Bromley Youth Court the 15-year-old suspect was found guilty of GBH, robbery and possession of a bladed article; the 17-year-old was found guilty of robbery.

Both were sentenced on Monday October 29 as follows:

The 15-year-old was sentenced to four years’ in a Young Offender Institution
The 17-year-old was given an 18-month detention and training order.