A teenage boy accused of a series of violent and sexual attacks on schoolgirls in Thornton Heath will face trial next month.  

The 15-year-old, who cannot be named, allegedly attacked four girls, in a spate of attacks between November 2019 and November 2020.

The youth, from Croydon, appeared at a pre-trial hearing today at Croydon Crown Court via a video link and denies two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, two counts of sexual assault, assault by penetration, common assault and robbery.

It is alleged he knifed one of the girls, aged 15, in Moffat Road at 8:50am on November 4 last year and struck again nearby in an almost identical attack on another 15-year-old school girl at around 8.23am two days later in St Paul’s Road.

The first victim was knifed in the thigh from behind while the second girl was stabbed in the arm from behind.

He is also charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl at 6.48am on 21 November 2019 in Norfolk Road.

The girls were all on their way to way school when they were allegedly attacked in the street.

On 2 September 2020 he punched a mother in the face then sexually assaulted her 13-year-old daughter in front of her by trying to remove her underwear, it is alleged.

He is also accused of pushing a 13-year-old girl into an alleyway on 6 October last year, pulling out a knife, stealing her headphones, grabbing her chest and trying to kiss her.

The teenager was arrested on 8 November 2020 after police released CCTV images of the alleged attacker jogging down a residential road after the second incident in St Paul’s Road.

Jason Seetal, prosecuting, earlier said the offences ‘all convey some form of sexual undertone to them and show a nature of violence.’

He remains in youth detention accommodation ahead of his trial at Croydon Crown Court on April 12.