JORDAN WILKES SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS FOR BRUTAL ATTACK IN NEW MILTON

Jordan Wilkes, a 29-year-old resident of New Milton, has been handed a severe prison sentence of 30 years following a violent and disturbing assault on a nine-year-old girl. The incident took place in August 2024, when Wilkes targeted the young girl while she was outside his flat, playing with a friend. The attack unfolded in a communal stairwell, where Wilkes ambushed the girl and launched a brutal assault with a penknife. During the assault, he stabbed her three times—once in her jaw, once in her shoulder, and once in her knee—aiming to cause fatal injuries.

Fortunately, the girl and her friend managed to escape the scene after knocking on several doors in the vicinity, desperately seeking help. Their quick thinking and bravery allowed them to find a neighbor who took them in and promptly contacted emergency services. The police responded swiftly, and Wilkes was later apprehended at his residence. Investigators recovered the weapon used in the attack, and forensic analysis confirmed Wilkes’s involvement: his DNA was found on the handle of the penknife, and the victim’s blood was on the blade.

Further court proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of Wilkes’s interest in violence. It was disclosed that he had researched unrelated violent incidents prior to the attack, including the infamous murder of James Bulger and the Southport killings. Evidence also showed that Wilkes kept several knives hidden around his home, and his phone contained numerous files related to murders and child killings, indicating a deeply troubling fascination with violence and death.

Wilkes was found guilty after a trial of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article. The judge, William Mousley KC, commended the bravery of the young victims, describing their conduct as 'remarkable.' In his sentencing remarks, Judge Mousley imposed a 30-year prison term with an additional five-year extended license for attempted murder. He also sentenced Wilkes to a concurrent two-year term for possessing a bladed article.

The victim’s family expressed their ongoing trauma but also their resilience, stating that while the scars of the incident would remain, they were proud of their daughter’s courage. Senior prosecutors described Wilkes as a 'highly dangerous individual with an obscene interest in knives and violence,' emphasizing that his online search history and possession of multiple knives demonstrated malevolent intentions.

In a statement, the family of the young girl conveyed that although the trauma would stay with them forever, they felt relief knowing that justice had been served. They expressed hope that Wilkes’s removal from society would ensure children’s safety moving forward. The court’s decision followed Wilkes’s conviction on March 7, and the proceedings highlighted the bravery of the young victims, as well as the severity of Wilkes’s actions and disturbing online interests, which painted a clear picture of his dangerous character.