UK teen jailed for life in skull attack

A teenager who plunged a knife into the head of another youth so hard the handle broke off was jailed for life yesterday for the savage attack.

Yassin Elmansouri, 17, stabbed his victim with so much force that the knife became embedded in his skull during the attack in south London last November.

The incident occurred after Mr Elmansouri tried to rob a boy outside a Tesco supermarket on the Old Kent Road. The victim's friends stepped in to help him and were stabbed.

One victim, known only as "Ahmed", was stabbed in the head, while two others suffered less serious chest and shoulder injuries.

Police were able to trace Mr Elmansouri after he dropped his hat and phone at the scene.

"No one hearing details of this case could fail to be horrified by the fact that one young man stabbed three boys over a mobile phone," said Detective Sergeant Dave Ainscough.

"Because he was carrying a knife, he used it and in his frenzy he stabbed one boy so hard that it was embedded in his skull and the handle came away as he tried to withdraw the knife."

Surgeons were able to save Mr Ahmed's life but he was left with permanent damage as a result of the attack.

"The injury has slowed me down in terms of my reactions when I am asked to perform sudden movements," he said in a statement.

"I am not able to play sport, or run around as I could before. This has added to my frustration as I knew before the attack how able and sporty I was. I will no doubt have to live with this for the rest of my life."

Mr Elmansouri was told he must serve seven years after being found guilty of attempted murder before he can be considered for parole.