South Sudanese National Jailed For Two Years After Entering School Grounds Armed With Hatchet, Knife, Hammer, and Petrol

A South Sudanese national who entered school grounds armed with a hatchet, a hammer, a kitchen knife, and a container of petrol has been jailed for two years at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.

Both Douk Deng, 21, appeared for sentencing after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to charges including possession of an offensive weapon, possessing a bladed article on school premises, and criminal damage.

The court heard that on 6 August 2025, police officers were called to Edgar Wood Academy in Heywood, Greater Manchester, after site contractors spotted Deng walking around the perimeter of the building during the summer holiday period.

Attending response officers detained Deng near the premises and recovered a seven-inch kitchen knife, a hatchet, a hammer attached to his belt, and a jerry can containing half a litre of petrol.

Prosecution evidence detailed that on the preceding day, 5 August 2025, Deng had been seen acting suspiciously outside Holy Family RC and CE College in Rochdale, where he kicked and damaged an intercom system.

A subsequent police investigation revealed no evidence of a violent motive, extremist ideological intent, or targeted hostility toward staff or pupils.

Mitigating on behalf of Deng, Sara Haque told the court that the defendant was a failed asylum seeker who had become increasingly distressed and frustrated by his inability to secure legal permission to work in the United Kingdom to support his family.

Ms Haque submitted that the defendant's conduct was a compulsive attempt to attract the attention of immigration authorities rather than an effort to inflict physical harm or intimidate members of the public.

Psychiatric assessments presented to the court showed no findings of major underlying mental health conditions or psychiatric disorders at the time of the offences.

Sentencing Deng, Judge Bernadette Baxter noted the defendant's status as a failed asylum seeker who had spent nearly a year in custody on remand while awaiting the conclusion of proceedings.

Judge Baxter observed that while the court possessed no statutory power to direct the executive branch, immigration authorities should address the defendant's legal status following the conclusion of the custodial period.

Deng was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, with the directive that he serve up to half the term in custody before becoming eligible for release on licence under standard statutory supervision conditions.