A university graduate who stalked, chased and stabbed a schoolgirl has been locked up for 38 years.
Recluse Ellis Dismore, 24, posted intimate photos of his online partner to social media, after the teen blocked him to end any further contact between them. Despite being in a relationship, which was mainly conducted over Snapchat, the two had had never met.
On Thursday, June 22, 2023, after days of sending his victim, and her family, voice notes threatening to stab the pupil in the heart – Dismore bought two steak knives from Wilko and waited for the teen in Middlesbrough.
The pupil thought she had been in a relationship with a teenage boy called “James Wilson” but in fact Dismore had set up fake profiles online and used other people’s photos. But she recognised Dismore’s voice as that of James – as he began shouting at her and chasing her on Premier Road.
Ellis Dismore
Dismore approached his victim from behind. The girl ran, but Dismore stabbed her five times in the back and in the chest.
He continued to try and stab her when a passing motorist heard her screams, and told the teen to get in their car. The victim suffered horrific injuries – three puncture wounds to her left breast and a slash wound to her hand.
Teesside Crown Court has hard that Dismore’s attack would “likely have been fatal” if the passing motorist hadn’t stopped. Dismore was found guilty of the attempted murder after standing trial in December 2023.
He pleaded guilty to the possession of a bladed article, after CCTV showed him buying knives and using one of them to stab his victim.
He was also found guilty of:
- the possession of a knife in public
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inciting a child into sexual activity
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three charges of making an indecent photograph of a child
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five charges of distributing an indecent photograph of a child
Police outside Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School in Middlesbrough
(Image: Teesside Live)
Sentencing for the attempted murder was delayed, after police found evidence that Dismore had blackmailed and demanded intimate photos from other underage pupils. Forensic examination of his computer and phone, showed that the gaming-obsessed masters student had downloaded indecent images of children and that he had contacted eight other girls.
He messaged them – often using fake profiles – and groomed them, until they sent him naked photos of themselves. Dismore was under 16 himself, when he contacted his first two child victims.
He targeted school pupils who were young teens and as his offences continued over several years, he used fake photos to pretend he was a teenage boy himself. Dismore used social media profiles to bombard some of his victims with hateful messages and threats – whilst he played the good guy, and pretended to be concerned.
Dismore stood trial for a second time last year, over the charges relating to the eight more victims. He was found guilty of:
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Six charges of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity
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two charges of stalking causing fear of violence or serious harm/distress
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making indecent photographs of a child
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four counts of arranging the commission of a child sexual offence
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sending an indecent electronic communication with intent to cause stress or anxiety
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causing a child to watch a sexual act
He pleaded guilty to a second count of making indecent images of children. On Wednesday, the court heard statement from some of the victims.
The schoolgirl that Dismore tried to kill, said she had been “a normal, happy teenager” until she met ‘James Wilson’. Dismore was jealous and controlling over the pupil, telling her she couldn’t see friends and pressuring her to send indecent photographs of herself.
“I was so frightened of Dismore, or ‘James,’ I told a friend of mine what had been going on, and she told me to block him,” she told the court. “I heard that he had sent indecent photos of me, that I had sent him. I was 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 again in my head. I’m scared to go out now.”
Another victim said she felt that Dismore was “obsessed with me” and it had been “too awkward” to tell her parents that he kept sending her sexualised images. One girl said that Dismore put her “under so much pressure” she sent him naked photos of herself that he was demanding.
She never heard from him again, once she sent the photos. Another victim, who was 14 when she met Dismore online, talked about the threats he made to rape one of her friends.
In mitigation, Paul Abrahams told the court that a pre-sentence report by the probation service, found that Dismore presents a “very high risk of causing serious harm to the public.” The defence barrister said that he could only make the points that Dismore has never received a prison sentence before; and that he has no previous convictions; and that he was a youth himself, when he targeted his first two victims.
‘You turned nasty’
Judge Timothy Stead told Dismore: “Your offences spanned several years and culminated in the most serious offence of attempted murder. Starting when you were a teenager – you had few, if any, friends at all, but you had knowledge and skills with regard to the use of the internet.
“You used that knowledge with cunning to create identities. You posed as a young teenager and you indicated to victims that you were a friendly teenage boy of the same age. Your initial communications were friendly and innocuous.
“But you turned nasty. Very nasty indeed. You demanded indecent images were sent to you. You asked for sex with them. You disclosed images.”
Speaking about the attack on June 22, he stated that Dismore approached his victim from behind. He continued: “You stabbed her repeatedly in the back. The victim can count herself very fortunate she wasn’t murdered.
“It is to enormous credit that a stranger shouted at you, and gave time for your victim to get into her car. If it hadn’t been for the actions of this woman, this would very likely be an offence of murder.” The judge classified Dismore as a “dangerous offender.”
Dismore, of Stoneyhurst Avenue, Acklam, in Middlesbrough, was handed an extended 43-year sentence – comprising of 38-years in prison and five years on licence. He was made the subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order; 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 Sergeant Andrew Hamilton from Cleveland Police, gave a statement outside court describing Dismore as a “violent predator.” Watch DS Hamilton here:
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Debbie Breen from the Crime Prosecution Service, 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 that these were not idle threats, as Dismore went on to carry out a terrifying knife attack against one of his victims.
“Despite the horrific nature of his actions toward them, the evidence provided by the brave young victims in this case has been instrumental in helping the Crown Prosecution Service to build such a robust case against Dismore.
“We sincerely hope that the part they have each played in jailing such a dangerous man will bring them some measure of comfort.”
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