A teacher stabbed by a 14-year-old pupil has given praise to God for his survival and forgiven his attacker.
Vincent Uzomah spoke powerfully outside Bradford Crown Court after the unnamed boy was sentenced to six years in custody and a further five years on licence.
Uzomah was stabbed in the stomach at Dixons Kings Academy on 11 June and said he and his family had suffered “trauma and pain” as a result.
‘I thank God’
However, he said that as a Christian he had forgiven the boy. He said it was right for the court case to have taken place and that he now prayed the boy would go on to make a positive impact on society.
He told reporters, “first and foremost, I want to thank God who made it possible that I survived”.
Uzomah continued: “I want to thank the Lord Jesus Christ whose name I was constantly calling after the stabbing and he didn’t let me down.
Unacceptable
“I also want to thank everybody who supported me and my family one way or the other during this ordeal.
“As a Christian, I’ve forgiven this boy who has inflicted this trauma and pain on to me and my family.
“It was, however, important for the law to run its course and for a strong message to be sent out, especially to kids of similar tendencies, that violence is never acceptable.
“Our prayer for him is that he would make use of the opportunities and support that will be provided to him to become a changed person who will make a positive contribution to the society. Thank you.”
Serious
Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC said the teenager had committed actions of “shocking seriousness” to “a God-fearing gentleman”.
Prosecuting, Jonathan Sharp, said the teenager was disruptive and a bully and had used cannabis.
West Yorkshire Police’s Detective Superintendent, Simon Atkinson, said the case was “shocking and very serious”, and that Uzomah had been being “incredibly magnanimous towards his attacker”.
The boy had, in a statement to police, said: “I am really sorry for stabbing my teacher. I do not know what is wrong with me. I do know I did not intend to kill him. I want to say sorry to Mr Uzomah and I hope he is feeling better soon.”