A violent sexual predator has been jailed for 43 years after stalking and attempting to murder a schoolgirl in Middlesbrough.
Ellis Dismore, 24, was sentenced at Teesside Crown Court after being found guilty of 26 offences, including attempted murder and making indecent photographs of children.
The university graduate stabbed his victim five times in the back and chest on June 22, 2023, after ambushing her as she walked home from school.
The attack came after months of online stalking, during which Dismore used multiple fake social media profiles to pose as a teenage boy.
A violent sexual predator has been jailed for 43 years after stalking and attempting to murder a schoolgirl in Middlesbrough
PA
The girl miraculously survived after a passing motorist intervened and drove her to safety, where she was airlifted to hospital.
Dismore was handed a 38-year prison sentence with a further five years on extended licence.
He initially contacted his victim online using the fake name 'James Wilson', posing as a teenage boy to gain her trust.
He began demanding indecent pictures of the schoolgirl, using threats and intimidation to force her compliance.
The court heard how Dismore became increasingly controlling, telling the victim she couldn't see friends and pressuring her for inappropriate photographs.
"I did what he told me to because I was scared what would happen to me, my friends and family," the victim told the court.
When she eventually confided in a friend about the abuse, she was advised to block him.
"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," she said.
After the victim told her mother and contacted police, Dismore sent messages saying he would happily do "jail time" for stabbing her in the heart.
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On the day of the attack, Dismore was captured on CCTV purchasing a pack of steak knives from Wilko in Middlesbrough.
He later waited for the teenager, approaching her while pretending to need medical assistance.
The girl immediately recognised his voice and attempted to flee, but Dismore gave chase.
CCTV and dashcam footage showed him pursuing the schoolgirl before stabbing her multiple times.
The victim suffered three puncture wounds to her left breast and a slash wound to her hand.
A passing motorist heard her screams and quickly drove her to a nearby school, from where she was airlifted to hospital.
Teesside Crown Court heard the attack would "likely have been fatal" if the motorist hadn't intervened.
The girl later told the court: "Ellis Dismore tried to kill me. I replay that attack over and over again in my head. I'm scared to go out now."
In a statement read to the court, the victim described how Dismore had "ruined" her life, saying she was a "normal, happy" teenager before being made to feel like a "prisoner".
She explained how Dismore's threats left her afraid to leave her house.
The victim was one of nine young girls targeted by Dismore over a seven-year period.
Another victim described feeling that Dismore was "obsessed with me", saying it had been "too awkward" to tell her parents about him sending sexualised images.
One girl revealed Dismore put her "under so much pressure" that she sent him the naked photos he was demanding.
A separate victim, who was 14 when she met Dismore online, spoke of his threats to rape one of her friends.
The court heard how Dismore would threaten to share indecent images and harm or rape the girls if they refused to comply with his demands.
A forensic examination of his computer and phone revealed the gaming-obsessed masters student had downloaded indecent images of children.
He created multiple fake profiles to target school pupils who were young teenagers.
As his offences continued over several years, Dismore used fake photos to maintain the pretence of being a teenage boy himself.
The court heard he was under 16 when he contacted his first two child victims.
Ellis Dismore, 24, was sentenced at Teesside Crown Court after being found guilty of 26 offences, including attempted murder and making indecent photographs of children
PA
Dismore would incite his victims to send indecent images before threatening to share them if they refused to comply with his wishes.
He would then attempt to meet his victims for sexual activity, again using threats if they refused.
A second trial was held last year over the charges relating to the eight additional victims, where he later pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children.
Dismore was found guilty of 26 offences, including attempted murder, having a bladed article, and multiple charges of inciting children into sexual activity.
He was made subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order prohibiting contact with his nine victims.
He will remain on the sex offenders' register for life.
Detective Sergeant Andrew Hamilton from Cleveland Police described Dismore as a "violent predator" who "made vile threats" and sent "sickening voice notes threatening to rape and stab" his victims.
Debbie Breen, Head of the CPS North East's RASSO Unit, said: "Ellis Dismore is a dangerous and violent sexual predator who manipulated his young victims into sexual activity through fear and intimidation."
She praised the "brave young victims" whose evidence helped build "such a robust case against Dismore."
