A quiet day in the residential neighborhood of Glider Close, Christchurch, Dorset, was shattered on August 20, 2024, when a horrifying act of violence left a nine-year-old girl seriously injured and a community in shock.
The young girl, accompanied by her friend, had been playing on the staircase inside a block of flats where 29-year-old Jordan Wilkes lived with his mother. What should have been a carefree childhood moment became a scene of chaos and horror when Wilkes launched a sudden and vicious knife attack.
Concealing a folding pocket knife, Jordan Wilkes approached the two children without warning. He grabbed one of the girls by her hair and arm, forcefully yanking out a clump of her hair before stabbing her multiple times—in the neck, chest, and knee. The attack was swift and brutal.
Despite the trauma, the two girls managed to escape and sought refuge by knocking on doors in the building. One family opened their door and took them in, providing immediate support until emergency responders arrived.
The victim was rushed to the hospital, where she received treatment for what the court later described as “serious” wounds. One of the stab wounds to her neck narrowly missed a major artery—a detail that underscores how close the attack came to becoming fatal.
A Pattern of Disturbing Behavior
The trial at Bournemouth Crown Court revealed a disturbing pattern in Jordan Wilkes’ behavior that predated the August attack. Prosecutor Berenice Mulvanny detailed an alarming digital trail left on Wilkes’ phone, which showed he had developed an obsession with child killings and violent crimes.
His device contained 69 files, including YouTube videos, podcasts, and articles related to murders, many involving children. Among them were stories about the Valentine’s Day school massacre in Parkland, Florida, and the killing of 13-year-old Tristyn Bailey in the U.S. by 14-year-old Aiden Fucci.
More disturbingly, Jordan Wilkes had recently researched the so-called Southport killings—an event that deeply unsettled communities across the UK after three young girls were murdered at a dance class in July 2024. Just a day after the incident, Wilkes accessed a webpage for a local dance class, a chilling link between his browsing habits and the eventual attack.
This was not Wilkes’ first violent outburst involving children. In 2016, he received a suspended 14-month prison sentence for assaulting an eight-year-old boy. That attack saw Jordan Wilkes punch and kick the child before stamping on his head, all because the boy was playing on some bins.
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The court also heard that Jordan Wilkes had previously shouted at and threatened children, including a 2022 incident where he yelled at a child with special needs who rang his doorbell as a prank. In 2020, he was suspected of setting fire to a pram outside his flat.
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When police searched his home following the August stabbing, they discovered several knives hidden throughout the premises, reinforcing the image of a man who had not only developed an unhealthy obsession with violence but had made practical preparations to act on those thoughts.
Impact on the Victim and the Legal Outcome
The impact of the attack on the young girl and her family has been devastating. In a victim impact statement read to the court, the girl’s mother described her daughter as once being a “happy, carefree child.” That changed overnight.
Since the attack, the child has struggled with anxiety, sleeplessness, and has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The physical scars are visible, but it’s the emotional and psychological trauma that will likely last even longer.
“She has not been the same child,” her mother said, summing up the heartbreaking transformation that her daughter has undergone. “Our entire family dynamic has changed. The innocent, bubbly, free-spirited little girl is no more.”
Judge William Mousley KC did not mince words during sentencing. He described Jordan Wilkes as a “dangerous offender” who posed a “significant risk” of causing serious harm to others.
Jordan Wilkes was sentenced to 30 years in custody, with an additional five years to be served on license upon release. The judge also noted that while the attack might have been “short-lived,” it was deeply serious and profoundly disturbing.
He remarked that Wilkes’ interest in child murders played a central role in the crime, saying, “You had an interest in child-killing and you decided to try it out for yourself.” The court rejected the idea that the attack was spontaneous and unplanned, emphasizing the defendant’s extensive online activity and fascination with child violence in the lead-up to the incident.
A Community Rattled and a Child Forever Changed
The case of Jordan Wilkes has rattled more than just the community in Christchurch—it has raised broader questions about the dangers lurking behind closed doors in seemingly peaceful neighborhoods.
Jordan Wilkes lived an isolated life with his mother and, according to his defense lawyer Nick Robinson, had a low IQ of 72 and presented as someone “much younger” than his actual age. Robinson also argued that the attack was not premeditated and that Wilkes showed remorse, but the weight of evidence and the brutality of the crime left little room for leniency.
Detective Chief Inspector Aimee Schock, speaking outside Bournemouth Crown Court, highlighted the bravery of the young girls in coming forward to testify and help secure a conviction.
“This was a horrific knife attack on a defenceless young girl that could easily have had fatal consequences,” she said. She thanked the emergency services for their quick response and credited the supportive neighbors who acted immediately to help the victims.
This case is a grim reminder of how quickly a child’s world can be turned upside down by violence. It also shows the importance of vigilance—not only by families and communities but by authorities in tracking patterns of disturbing behavior before they escalate into tragedy.
The courage of the two girls and the swift actions of those who helped them prevented an already horrific situation from becoming even worse. But for the young victim and her family, the road to healing remains long.
As Jordan Wilkes begins his three-decade prison sentence, the lasting impact of his actions will be carried by a child whose trust in the world was shattered far too soon.