Watch dramatic arrest of man who repeatedly stabbed girl, 9, after researching Southport murders

A man who researched the Southport stabbings has been jailed for 30 years for the attempted murder of a nine-year-old girl.

Jordan Wilkes was convicted following the attack on 20 August last year - three weeks after the Southport stabbings. The 29-year-old stabbed the girl three times as she was playing in the stairwell of the flats where he lived with his mother in Glider Close, Christchurch, Dorset.

Berenice Mulvanny, prosecuting, told Bournemouth Crown Court the victim and her friend had been playing on the stairs when Wilkes came out of his flat and approached the two youngsters while concealing a folding pocket knife. He then stabbed the victim in the neck, chest and knee while grabbing her by the arm and hair.

The youngster was said to have suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Ms Mulvanny said Wilkes tore a clump of hair out from the girl which she suggested he kept as a "trophy" until he was told to throw it away by his mother.

The girls managed to run away and get help until the emergency services arrived. Ms Mulvanny said a search of the defendant's home found a number of knives, several of which had been hidden around the premises.

Analysis of his mobile phone revealed 69 files relating to YouTube videos, news articles and podcasts focused on murders and child killings. This included the so-called "Valentine's Day massacre" at a high school in Parkland, Florida, in 2018 in which 17 people were killed.

And a day after the Southport killings, he had clicked on a link for a local dance class, the court heard. Judge William Mousley KC sentenced Wilkes to 30 years in custody with an extended five-year period on licence for attempted murder and possession of a knife, telling him: "You are a dangerous offender, there is a significant risk of you causing serious harm to others in the future.

"This was a very serious offence, as an attempt to kill a nine-year-old child it was short-lived and not premeditated, you lost your temper. "You had an interest in child-killing and you decided to try it out for yourself." The victim's family said "justice had been delivered" in a statement after the hearing.

They said: "We are extremely fortunate, beyond words and feelings to still have our little girl with us today, given the severity of her injuries our little girl is currently and undoubtedly will experience further challenges and difficulties for the rest her life, of which we are uncertain of the impact on her.".