Horrifying moment knife-wielding paedophile chases schoolgirl down the street in attempted murder bid after grooming and stalking her online – as he is jailed for 43 years

A violent sexual predator who stalked a schoolgirl before trying to kill her has been jailed for 43 years.

Ellis Dismore, 24, stalked his victim online after using multiple fake media profiles to pose as a young teenager before threatening her with violence and rape.

The university graduate later ambushed the girl as she walked home from school on a street in Middlesbrough and got her attention by pretending to need medical attention.

Dismore was caught on CCTV and dashcam footage chasing the girl as she got off a school bus before stabbing her five times in the back and chest on June 22, 2023.

The girl miraculously survived the attack after a passing motorist bravely intervened and quickly drove her to a nearby school, where she was then taken to hospital.

In a statement to the court, the girl said Dismore had “ruined” her life, adding that she was a “normal, happy” teenager before feeling like a “prisoner.”

Police investigating the murder attempt later discovered that Dismore had contacted eight other victims online over a period of seven years, groomed them and tricked them into sending indecent images.

He was given a 38-year prison sentence with a further five years’ extended license after being found guilty of 26 offences, including attempted murder, taking indecent photographs of a child and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Dismore would incite his victims to send him indecent images of themselves before threatening to share the images and harm or rape the girls if they refused to comply with his wishes.

He then attempted to meet his victims and engage in sexual activity, threatening them again if they refused.

Dismore had posed as a teenage boy called James Wilson when he met the teenager online and began demanding indecent photos of her, the court heard.

In a statement read to the court, the girl said Dismore threatened her to the point where she wouldn’t leave the house.

Jealous, Dismore controlled the student, telling her she couldn’t see friends and pressuring her to send indecent photos of herself.

She added: ‘I did what he told me because I was afraid of what would happen to me, my friends and family.’

“I was so scared of Dismore, or ‘James,’ that I told a friend of mine what was going on, and she told me to block him,” she told the court.

“I heard that he had sent indecent photos of me, which I sent to him. I felt so embarrassed that people I know and strangers would see pictures of me.”

The victim said, “Ellis Dismore tried to kill me. I replay that attack over and over in my head. I’m afraid to go outside now.’

The girl eventually told her mother about Dismore and contacted police, prompting the 24-year-old to send her more gruesome messages, explaining that he would like to serve jail time for stabbing her in the heart.

On the day of the attack, Dismore was seen buying a pack of steak knives from Wilko and then waiting for the teenager in Middlesbrough.

When he approached the girl and pretended to need medical attention, she quickly recognized his voice and ran away.

However, Dismore chased her and previously stabbed her multiple times a passing motorist heard her screams and told the teen to get in the car.

The victim suffered horrific injuries: three stab wounds to her left chest and a stab wound to her hand. The girl said she thought she would die before the motorist saved her life.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Dismore’s attack was ‘likely to have been fatal’ if the passing motorist had not stopped.

Dismore was found guilty of the attempted murder after going on trial in December 2023. He pleaded guilty to possessing a bladed article after CCTV showed him buying knives and using one of them to stab his victim.

Sentencing for the attempted murder was postponed after police found evidence that Dismore had blackmailed other underage students and demanded intimate photos.

Forensic examination of his computer and phone revealed that the gaming-obsessed graduate student had downloaded indecent images of children and had been in contact with eight other girls.

He sent them messages – often using fake profiles – and groomed them until they sent him naked photos of themselves.

Dismore targeted students who were young teenagers and as his offenses continued for years, he used fake photos to pretend he was a teenager himself.

He was not yet 16 years old when he contacted his first two underage victims.

Dismore stood trial for the second time last year on the charges related to the eight other victims. He later pleaded guilty to a second charge of making indecent images of children.

Another victim said she felt Dismore was “obsessed with me” and that it had been “too awkward” to tell her parents that he kept sending her sexualized images.

One girl said Dismore “put so much pressure on her” that she sent him nude photos of herself that he requested.

After she sent the photos, she never heard from him again. Another victim, who was 14 when she met Dismore online, recounted the threats he made to rape one of her friends.

Dismore, of Stoneyhurst Avenue, Acklam, in Middlesbrough, was given an extended prison sentence of 43 years, with 38 years in prison and five years suspended.

He was found guilty of attempted murder; having an article with leaves; seven counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity; five charges of distributing an indecent photograph of a child; two counts of stalking causing fear of violence or serious harm/discomfort; four counts of taking indecent photographs of a child; four counts of arranging/facilitating the commission of a child sex crime; sending indecent electronic communications with intent to cause stress/anxiety; and causing a child to watch a sexual act.

An indefinite sexual harm prevention order was made against him; and a restraining order prohibits him from contacting his nine victims indefinitely.

He will sign the sex offenders register for the rest of his life. After the sentencing, Detective Andrew Hamilton of the Cleveland Police Department made a statement outside court describing Dismore as a “violent predator.”

The officer said: ‘Over a period of seven years, Dismore used fake social media accounts to stalk and stalk a number of young girls and entice them into sending indecent images.

‘He made vile threats to them and sent sickening ballots threatening to rape and stab them.

‘Dismore’s offending escalated when he attacked a 15-year-old girl in the street with a knife in a terrifying attack as she went home from school, leaving her seriously injured.

‘If she had not been saved by a brave passer-by, she could have lost her life.

“This incident led to the discovery of other girls who had been preyed upon by Dismore and stalked and harassed via social media.”

Debbie Breen, head of the Rape and Serious Sexual Offenses Unit (RASSO) at CPS North East, said: ‘Ellis Dismore is a dangerous and violent sexual predator who manipulated his young victims into sexual activity through fear and intimidation.

‘It is clear these were not idle threats as Dismore then carried out a terrifying knife attack on one of his victims.

“Despite the horrific nature of his actions towards them, the evidence provided by the brave young victims in this case has played a huge role in helping the Crown Prosecution Service build such a robust case against Dismore.

“We sincerely hope that the role they played in jailing such a dangerous man will bring them some comfort.”