Latest news with #knife crime
Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Balaclava-clad teen with 'unhealthy interest' in blades 'grinned' as he stabbed 18-year-old through the heart with a Rambo knife, court hears
A balaclava-clad teenager who had an 'unhealthy interest' in knives grinned before fatally stabbing an 18-year-old man through the heart with a Rambo-style knife, a murder trial has heard. Jurors at Derby Crown Court heard that Charles Hartle, who was aged 17 at the time, allegedly carried out an 'utterly pointless killing' when he attacked Noah Smedley on a dark street in Ilkeston, Derbyshire. The alleged attack happened on the evening of December 28 last year with the knife he kept hidden in his tracksuit bottoms. Hartle, now aged 18, sat in the dock on Tuesday wearing glasses, a black jacket and white shirt while Adrian Langdale KC opened the prosecution case. Mr Langdale told the jury of seven women and five men: 'On December 28 2024 you will have been getting over Christmas and preparing for the new year - Charles Hartle was going out on the streets armed with a knife. 'He moved towards Noah, he grinned or smiled before deliberately aiming for and stabbing him in the chest. 'There is no dispute that this lethal weapon was in the hands of that young man Charlie Hartle. 'Noah Smedley, the Crown will say, did absolutely nothing wrong, he did nothing to deserve what happened to him. 'He wasn't himself armed... he did not offer any violence. 'The Crown will say it was an utterly pointless killing other than this defendant's unhealthy interest with knives and the fact he was, the Crown will say, a habitual carrier of knives. 'You will hear that the defendant was planning on meeting up with three of his friends who would later witness, and be feet away from, the murder.' The court was told that Hartle and his friends arranged to meet Mr Smedley who arrived at the scene on an electric scooter and sold them cannabis before the fatal attack. Mr Langdale continued: 'It was agreed to meet him at a bus stop on Heanor Road, Ilkeston, and so the defendant and his three mates are captured on CCTV shortly after 8pm going to meet the deceased. 'This defendant deliberately hangs back at the back of the group, whilst the others are chatting with Noah and he gives them the cannabis. 'All seemingly, in these matters of seconds, are in good spirits - there is no animosity. 'This defendant will pull his balaclava down over his face, he moves forward in the group to get closer to Noah and reaches into the back of his tracksuit. 'Hartle immediately takes one stride forward and in the same motion thrusts the knife forward and through Noah's heart.' The jury heard that Hartle and his friends ran from the scene leaving Mr Smedley 'staggering and bleeding profusely'. The knife penetrated the right ventricle of Mr Smedley's heart and his left lung causing internal bleeding and his lung to collapse, the prosecutor said. Mr Langdale told the court: 'The defendant raises the idea of self-defence claiming to the police he had recently been threatened by others with knives. As a result of that he decided to take this knife out. 'The Crown say this is an entirely false account, instead it was the defendant who routinely carried a Rambo knife... and did so for the kudos and bravado.' The prosecutor said Hartle carried the weapon to show others he was a 'big man'. Jurors heard the defendant, of Station Road in Stanley, Derbyshire, pleaded guilty to possessing a bladed article in a public place but denies murder. CCTV of the group was shown to the jury, including the moment Mr Smedley was fatally stabbed with a knife described to be 'eight to nine inches' long. The trial, which is expected to last two weeks, continues.
BBC News
15-07-2025
- BBC News
Noah Smedley: Murder accused had 'unhealthy interest' in knives
A teenager who had an "unhealthy interest" in knives grinned before fatally stabbing an 18-year-old man through the heart with a Rambo-style knife, a murder trial has Crown Court was told that Charles Hartle, now 18 but 17 at the time, allegedly carried out an "utterly pointless killing" when he attacked Noah Smedley on a dark street in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, on 28 heard the defendant, of Station Road, Stanley, Derbyshire, pleaded guilty to possessing a bladed article in a public place but denies Adrian Langdale KC said Mr Hartle carried the weapon to show others he was a "big man". 'Pointless killing' He told the jury of seven women and five men: "On December 28 2024, you will have been getting over Christmas and preparing for the new year - Charles Hartle was going out on the streets armed with a knife."He moved towards Noah, he grinned or smiled before deliberately aiming for and stabbing him in the chest."There is no dispute that this lethal weapon was in the hands of that young man Charlie Hartle."Mr Langdale added the Crown Prosecution Service will say Noah Smedley did "absolutely nothing wrong" and was not armed himself."The Crown will say it was an utterly pointless killing other than this defendant's unhealthy interest with knives and the fact he was, the Crown will say, a habitual carrier of knives."You will hear that the defendant was planning on meeting up with three of his friends who would later witness, and be feet away from, the murder," Mr Langdale said. The court was told Mr Hartle and his friends arranged to meet Mr Smedley, who arrived at the scene on an electric scooter and sold them cannabis before the fatal Langdale continued: "This defendant deliberately hangs back at the back of the group, whilst the others are chatting with Noah and he gives them the cannabis."All seemingly, in these matters of seconds, are in good spirits - there is no animosity."This defendant will pull his balaclava down over his face, he moves forward in the group to get closer to Noah and reaches into the back of his tracksuit."Hartle immediately takes one stride forward and in the same motion thrusts the knife forward and through Noah's heart."The jury heard Hartle and his friends ran from the scene leaving Mr Smedley "staggering and bleeding profusely".The knife penetrated the right ventricle of Mr Smedley's heart and his left lung causing internal bleeding and his lung to collapse, the prosecutor Langdale told the court: "The defendant raises the idea of self-defence claiming to the police he had recently been threatened by others with knives. As a result of that he decided to take this knife out."The Crown say this is an entirely false account, instead it was the defendant who routinely carried a Rambo knife... and did so for the kudos and bravado."CCTV of the group was shown to the jury, including the moment Mr Smedley was fatally stabbed with a knife described to be "eight to nine inches" trial, which is expected to last two weeks, continues
The Independent
15-07-2025
- The Independent
Teenager ‘grinned' before stabbing man in heart with Rambo knife, trial told
A balaclava-clad teenager who had an 'unhealthy interest' in knives grinned before fatally stabbing an 18-year-old man through the heart with a Rambo-style knife, a murder trial has heard. Jurors at Derby Crown Court heard that Charles Hartle, who was aged 17 at the time, allegedly carried out an 'utterly pointless killing' when he attacked Noah Smedley on a dark street in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, on the evening of December 28 last year with the knife he kept hidden in his tracksuit bottoms. The defendant, now aged 18, sat in the dock on Tuesday wearing glasses, a black jacket and white shirt while Adrian Langdale KC opened the prosecution case. Mr Langdale told the jury of seven women and five men: 'On December 28 2024 you will have been getting over Christmas and preparing for the new year – Charles Hartle was going out on the streets armed with a knife. 'He moved towards Noah, he grinned or smiled before deliberately aiming for and stabbing him in the chest. 'There is no dispute that this lethal weapon was in the hands of that young man Charlie Hartle. 'Noah Smedley, the Crown will say, did absolutely nothing wrong, he did nothing to deserve what happened to him. He wasn't himself armed… he did not offer any violence. 'The Crown will say it was an utterly pointless killing other than this defendant's unhealthy interest with knives and the fact he was, the Crown will say, a habitual carrier of knives. 'You will hear that the defendant was planning on meeting up with three of his friends who would later witness, and be feet away from, the murder.' The court was told that Hartle and his friends arranged to meet Mr Smedley who arrived at the scene on an electric scooter and sold them cannabis before the fatal attack. Mr Langdale continued: 'It was agreed to meet him at a bus stop on Heanor Road, Ilkeston, and so the defendant and his three mates are captured on CCTV shortly after 8pm going to meet the deceased. 'This defendant deliberately hangs back at the back of the group, whilst the others are chatting with Noah and he gives them the cannabis. 'All seemingly, in these matters of seconds, are in good spirits – there is no animosity. 'This defendant will pull his balaclava down over his face, he moves forward in the group to get closer to Noah and reaches into the back of his tracksuit. 'Hartle immediately takes one stride forward and in the same motion thrusts the knife forward and through Noah's heart.' The jury heard that Hartle and his friends ran from the scene leaving Mr Smedley 'staggering and bleeding profusely'. The knife penetrated the right ventricle of Mr Smedley's heart and his left lung causing internal bleeding and his lung to collapse, the prosecutor said. Mr Langdale told the court: 'The defendant raises the idea of self-defence claiming to the police he had recently been threatened by others with knives. As a result of that he decided to take this knife out. 'The Crown say this is an entirely false account, instead it was the defendant who routinely carried a Rambo knife… and did so for the kudos and bravado.' The prosecutor said Hartle carried the weapon to show others he was a 'big man'. Jurors heard the defendant, of Station Road in Stanley, Derbyshire, pleaded guilty to possessing a bladed article in a public place but denies murder. CCTV of the group was shown to the jury, including the moment Mr Smedley was fatally stabbed with a knife described to be 'eight to nine inches' long. The trial, which is expected to last two weeks, continues.
Telegraph
28-06-2025
- Telegraph
Teenager whose arrest led to officer's sacking was involved in drug crime
A teenage knifeman whose arrest led to the sacking of a decorated officer had previously been involved in drug crime, The Telegraph can disclose. Lorne Castle was dismissed for gross misconduct after tackling the masked 15-year-old suspect to the ground and holding him down while telling him to 'stop screaming like a b----'. It has now emerged that the teenager had previously been linked to drug dealing in the Bournemouth area and Mr Castle was aware of that before making the arrest. Mr Castle, who is waiting to hear if he can appeal against his dismissal, has previously said that following the ordeal he no longer feels safe living in the seaside town. Dorset Police said that the officer, who previously won a bravery award for saving an elderly woman from a freezing river, was sacked because his actions would undermine public confidence in the police. In written remarks the misconduct panel said that 'notwithstanding the absence of any evidence of actual harm', Pc Castle should have been aware of how his actions might be perceived. The arrest took place on Jan 27 2024 in Bournemouth. Mr Castle, 46, was at the end of a 10-hour shift when the call about a violent masked offender came in. The 15 year-old he detained was suspected of assaulting an elderly man while riding an e-scooter before getting embroiled in a fight with another youth outside a McDonald's restaurant. Earlier in the day, at the start of their shift, officers were warned that a large gang fight had taken place in the area and potential suspects were still at large. In body-worn video of the arrest, released by Dorset Police, Mr Castle is seen holding the teenager on the ground while telling him to 'stop screaming like a b----'. A knife is also captured in the footage falling from the youth's pocket. The boy was not injured in the incident and was later given an out of court disposal for possession of the blade. The individual that Mr Castle arrested was not the one who complained about his actions. Instead, it was two of his colleagues who assisted in the arrest. Neither had been on the street for more than six months. Four months before the incident, Mr Castle, who had an unblemished service record before being dismissed, plunged into a freezing river in the middle of the night to rescue a vulnerable elderly woman and was given a police bravery award for his actions. He has previously told The Telegraph that throughout the rescue he knew that if something went wrong and she died, he could be arrested for manslaughter as police officers should not technically enter the water in such a dangerous situation. Since his dismissal, Mr Castle said he had received hundreds of messages from serving and former police colleagues offering messages of support. A Go Fund Me page to support the former officer has raised almost £130,000 so far. Last week, while out shopping, Mr Castle conducted a citizens arrest on a shoplifter, who was in his 30s, who had fled a Nike store with stolen goods. The manager of the Nike store later praised Mr Castle, who it was said had been 'extremely pleasant and courteous' to the man he stopped.
Daily Mail
05-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Hero police officer sacked over 'aggressive' arrest of knife-wielding teenager says he is being treated like an 'abuser' and will appeal his case
A hero police officer who was sacked over his 'aggressive' arrest of a 15-year-old boy carrying a knife has said he is being treated like an 'abuser'. Former officer of Dorset Police, Lorne Castle, was dismissed by the force after an independent disciplinary tribunal found he had committed gross misconduct in relation to the arrest in Bournemouth town centre on January 27 2024. The ex-police constable had admitted misconduct in relation to breaching the standards of professional behaviour relating to authority, respect and courtesy, conduct and use of force, but denied gross misconduct. Following the hearing, Dorset Police said he acted 'inappropriately' as he detained the teenager after receiving reports of two assaults in the seaside town. It is understood that he intends to appeal the decision to sack him for gross misconduct. The married father-of-two said: 'I've got a phenomenal family and everyone knows that, but people are asking that question now "am I some sort of abuser?" because I attempted to arrest someone who was potentially violent.' A video clip of the incident, released by the force on Tuesday, shows the officer tackling the boy, who was later found to be carrying double-edged Stanley-style knife, to the ground before taking hold of the teenager's face and throat while repeatedly swearing and shouting at him. The boy can be heard shouting and crying 'what have I done' and 'what did I do' before the officer shouts 'stop screaming like a little b****, do you understand that? Shut up'. The teenager also screams 'my f****** neck, get off me, I don't want you on me', while Mr Castle is on top of him. The officer later shouts 'stop resisting or I'm gonna smash you, do you understand?' and says the boy is being arrested on suspicion of assault. The spokesman for the force said: 'PC Castle was seen to use unnecessary and inappropriate words towards the boy and place both his hands on his throat. 'The panel found that PC Castle failed to act with self-control, did not treat the boy with courtesy or respect. 'His shouting, swearing, finger pointing, taking hold of the boy's face and throat, and suggested use of leg restraints was not necessary, reasonable or proportionate.' Speaking on LBC radio, Mr Castle said that the suspect, who had been wearing a mask, had been 'an unknown risk' and was found to be in possession of a knife during the arrest. The 46-year-old said: 'If I'd have known on those circumstances that he had a knife, that would have probably been a firearms incident. 'The real danger is the unknown. We knew he was potentially violent, but we didn't know how violent. 'Now, the risk for any police officer is the moment you go to detain someone, until you know you've got them safely detained.' He added that it was a 'scary situation' because he was on the ground with the offender with other people nearby. Mr Castle, who previously received a bravery award from the Humane Society, said he had received thousands of messages of support but felt that people were questioning his nature despite previously having '10 years of exemplary service'. He also revealed to the Telegraph that four months before this arrest, he plunged into a freezing river in the middle of the night to save a drowning, vulnerable elderly woman. Although police regulations prohibited him from entering the water, Mr. Castle disregarded the rules, removed his stab vest, and waded into the icy current, as her terrified family watched. 'Do you know what was going through my mind at that time? If I hit her with the ring, or she attempts to get it and gets dragged away, I'm up for manslaughter because professional standards will tell me 'you weren't supposed to go in. You were trying to be a hero. That is the world that we operate in'. After saving her, he was awarded for his action. In a statement, Dorset Police Federation criticised the force's decision to release the footage, saying it had done so 'without also providing context or balance'. 'Our view is that the showing of selective clips of an officer's body-worn video is not a useful or responsible way to properly inform the public about an incident, and only serves to entice the public into making judgements without having the benefit of all the facts', the body said. Adding: 'This is not fair or just. ' It added its members were still in limbo over how much force they should use in an arrest situation, and following PC Castle's sacking, it called on force commanders to provide 'urgent clarification' to frontline officers on the issue of force. But the federation said no such clarification has been forthcoming. Meanwhile, a distinguished former police and crime commissioner of Dorset Police said his former force has gone 'woke'. Martyn Underhill said he found it 'scary' how Dorset Police behaved, calling it an 'overreaction'. He said that while he deserved to be interviewed and disciplined, they were wrong to dismiss the 46-year-old officer without notice for gross misconduct. He also slammed their 'questionable' decision to release footage of the arrest and said he was one of the 2,500 people who have so far donated to a GoFundMe campaign. A campaigner for frontline police officers said the force had 'scored one of the biggest own goals ever' by sacking PC Castle. Dorset's Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Farrell said: 'We are sharing body worn video to address concerns about misinformation and to reassure the public that, while tackling crime in Dorset, our officers will continue to be proactive and robust - but by using their powers proportionately and with respect.' The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, has been asked to intervene in the case and reinstate PC Castle. A spokesperson for the Home Office declined to comment and said it was a matter for Dorset Police.
