These X-ray images show how a 16-year-old boy narrowly escaped death when a 5in knife was plunged into his head during an attempted street robbery.

The teenager and two other young men were injured when they tried to stop a friend being robbed at a bus stop in Walworth, southeast London, in November last year.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was taken to hospital with the knife still in his head. After a delicate operation he has made a good recovery and has started college, although he still needs hospital checks. His attacker, a 17-year-old, who also cannot be named, was convicted of attempted murder and grievous bodily harm by Inner London Crown Court last week.

The attacker, who was in a gang of three, will be sentenced this month. After the intended victim’s other friends stepped in to help, one was stabbed in the chest and the other suffered minor injuries to his shoulder. Both have recovered. The defendant was seen running away, but dropped his hat and mobile telephone.

Forensic scientists identified the attacker from DNA traces found inside the hat. He was arrested at home several days later.

Detective Constable Scott Albert said: “There is no doubt the victim was lucky to survive. He was fortunate to be rushed to hospital as quickly as possible after the incident happened and the skill of the surgeons saved him.

“The blade was a kitchen knife and because of that it was flexible and went around the bone. Since the incident the victim’s reactions have slowed and he is walking with a limp. But he is back in college and trying to get on with his life.

“He has to go back to hospital for occasional surgery because he also suffered damage to his nerves.”

Stabbings on the rise

— 129,840 offences, 6 per cent of all violent crime, involved a knife last year

— The number of under-16s seeking treatment for stab wounds rose by 88 per cent, from 95 in 2002-03 to 179 in 2006-07

— Among 16 to 18-year-olds, there was a 75 per cent increase in stab wounds, from 429 to 752

Sources: Home Office; Metropolitan Police; NHS; Times archive

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