Jade Bennett was locked up at Maidstone Crown Court

by Keith Hunt

A teenage girl who twice stabbed another student after they met to have a fight has been locked up for six years.

Jade Bennett knifed Sarah Ripley in the back and then chased her for three streets in Broadstairs to stab her again.

The 21-year-old victim suffered a collapsed lung and was airlifted to a London hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Miss Ripley had since recovered, but had been left with scarring from emergency surgery.

Bennett, 18, wept as Judge Michael Carroll told her: "You have your whole life ahead of you. Despite your problems, and they are manifold, the law cannot excuse your behaviour.

"You were prepared to fight with Miss Ripley and she with you. However, things obviously escalated."

Bennett, of Addiscombe Gardens, Margate, admitted wounding with intent and her not guilty plea to attempted murder was accepted.

Martin Yale, prosecuting, said the teenager and Miss Ripley were both students at Thanet Technical College and had been friends, but they fell out over a boy and started arguing on Facebook.

"despite your problems, and they are manifold, the law cannot excuse your behaviour…” – judge michael carroll

They agreed to meet for a fight, but Bennett did not turn up the first time.

On January 12, Bennett went to see her college mentor, complaining she was being bullied. She saw her mentor again a week later and again spoke of being bullied and suffering racial abuse.

The same day, Bennett and Miss Ripley met up in the college library and agreed to have a fight. They walked out into the street to go to an alleyway.

"Miss Ripley felt what she thought was a punch to the right side of her back," said Mr Yale. "She realised she was bleeding.

"She turned around and saw the defendant was holding a knife. The blade was about 10in long. She told her to drop it. Instead, she ran towards her. Miss Ripley ran."

Bennett gave chase and when they reached Granville Road, she stabbed Miss Ripley in the back again.

The victim fell into the arms of workman Julian Holland. He later described Bennett as "having a look of malice on her face".

Miss Ripley had trouble breathing. Mr Holland tried to stem the blood flow until the emergency services arrived.

Kent Air Ambulance flew her to the Royal London Hospital, where she was treated for a collapsed lung. She was detained for eight days.