A man who was filmed repeatedly stabbing a teenage girl has been sentenced to 38 years in prison.
Ellis Dismore, 24, posed as a teenage boy before stalking and threatening his victim, ultimately attacking her on the streets of Middlesbrough, England.
Dramatic CCTV and dashcam footage recorded the incident, showing Dismore chasing the girl down the street and stabbing her five times in the back as she screamed for help. A passing motorist intervened and helped her escape by getting her into their car.
The girl, who had never encountered Dismore before but recognized his voice, credited the driver with saving her life.
Dismore was convicted on 26 charges, including attempted murder and coercing eight other girls he met online into engaging in s*xual acts. After being deemed dangerous, he will serve an additional five years on an extended license.
Using the alias James Wilson, Dismore met the girl online in 2022. In a statement read to the court, the victim described how she had been a “normal, happy” teenager who enjoyed socializing, but Dismore’s threats eventually led her to fear leaving her home.
“I did what he told me to because I was scared of what would happen to me, my friends, and family,” she said, explaining how he demanded explicit photos from her.
After confiding in a friend, the girl blocked Dismore, prompting him to distribute her photos to others, which made her feel “terrified” of meeting anyone who had seen them. She later informed her mother, who contacted the police.
Dismore sent her threatening voice messages in which he boasted about being willing to serve time in prison for stabbing her. Disturbing Snapchats included threats to harm her, revealing his intent to “ruin her life.”
CCTV footage showed Dismore purchasing a pack of steak knives from a supermarket prior to the attack on June 22, 2023. Other victims reported that he, again posing as a teenager, coerced them into sending him indecent images.
Judge Timothy Stead remarked on Dismore’s “dangerous” nature, noting the insidious approach he used to befriend the girls. He stated that it was unclear how many girls Dismore had targeted, but it was evident he devoted extensive time and energy to these criminal activities.
The judge highlighted how fortunate the victim of the stabbing was to have survived, saying, “Her life was in peril without a doubt.”
Following the case, Det Sgt Andrew Hamilton of Cleveland Police praised the bravery of the victims who came forward. He noted, “Over seven years, Dismore used fake social media accounts to groom numerous young girls and coaxed them into sending indecent images. His threats and the horrifying nature of his voice messages were truly sickening.
“Dismore’s crimes escalated when he attacked a 15-year-old girl in a terrifying incident as she was returning home from school, leaving her with serious injuries. Had a brave bystander not intervened, she may well have lost her life.”
Additionally, a s*xual harm prevention order and a restraining order were imposed, prohibiting Dismore from contacting any of his nine victims.
