A “violent predator” who groomed a 15-year-old girl online has been jailed for trying to murder her in the street.

Ellis Dismore, 24, was sentenced to 43 years in prison at Teesside Crown Court on Wednesday for attempted murder and more than 20 other offences against young girls.

Cleveland Police said Dismore, from Middlesbrough, had sent threatening and disturbing voice messages to members of the girl’s family after he had groomed her online.

The knife attack which followed happened in broad daylight in Middlesborough in June 2023.

The teenager was attacked after she got off a school bus and was repeatedly stabbed.

The attempted murder was captured on the dashcam footage of a passing vehicle and a driver stepped in to help save the victim, taking the girl to the safety of her mother.

In November last year, Dismore was convicted of a further 16 offences, related to grooming and stalking girls, which came to light after detectives investigated the attempted murder.

Dismore used fake profiles to pose as a teenager over a period of seven years, officers said.

He then asked his victims to send him indecent images of themselves and threatened to share them if they refused further demands.

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Speaking outside court, Detective Sergeant Andrew Hamilton praised the bravery of Dismore’s victims.

DS Hamilton said the defendant made “vile threats” towards his victims and sent “sickening voice notes threatening to rape and stab them”.

He said the offending “escalated” when he attacked the 15-year-old with a knife in a “terrifying assault as she went home from school”.

“Dismore is a violent predator and now that he is in prison he can no longer pose a danger to women and girls in our community,” he added.

Rani Govender, an online specialist with children’s charity the NSPCC, said Dismore was a “frightening and highly dangerous individual”.

“The fact he was able to create a teenage profile on social media sites to target girls highlights once again why tech companies must be compelled to make their platforms safe by design for all their young users,” she added.

Children and young people can contact Childline with any concerns on 0800 1111.

Adults worried about a child’s safety can get in touch with the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or by emailing help@nspcc.org.uk.

An amber warning has been issued for snow in a part of the UK, likely to cause travel delays and “stranding some vehicles and passengers”.

The warning, which covers south west England, also warns some rural communities could become cut off and is in place until 2pm this evening.

There is also a yellow weather warning for snow covering the southern counties of England until midnight on Wednesday.

The warning stretches from Kent to Cornwall and up to south London and the Met Office said between 2cm and 5cm of snow could accumulate fairly widely, with as much as 10cm over higher ground.

This week is expected to see the coldest nights of the year, with temperatures potentially reaching -14C on Wednesday night and -16C on Thursday night, both in the North East of England and Scotland, the Met Office said.

Weather warnings issued on Tuesday for snow and ice covering the parts of Wales, the North West of England, west and northern parts of Scotland as well as Northern Ireland will remain in place until midnight tomorrow.

The forecaster said some roads and railways are likely to be affected and there could be icy patches on untreated roads.

Meanwhile the Environment Agency has said at least 300 properties have flooded across England since New Year’s Eve. It estimates more than 41,000 properties have been protected.

Heavy rainfall over the New Year caused significant river and surface water flooding across the North West of England and Yorkshire and snowmelt has brought further disruption to parts of England, particularly the Midlands, the agency said.

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Floods minister Emma Hardy said: “My sympathies go out to the people, businesses and communities impacted by the recent flooding across the country.

“I want to express my heartfelt thanks for the vital work that the Environment Agency and emergency services are doing to keep people safe. People must continue to follow their advice and sign up for flood warnings.”

Flood warnings

Some 100 flood warnings were in force across England on Wednesday, with people urged to remain vigilant over the coming days.

A danger-to-life warning was issued on Tuesday morning for the River Soar near Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire, but was later removed.

People living in caravan parks in the area were urged by the Environment Agency to act, with a large-scale evacuation needed to save lives.

Firefighters have rescued dozens of people across Leicestershire since Monday, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said.

Hundreds of schools were closed across the UK, with road and rail links blocked, as Manchester, Bristol and Liverpool John Lennon airports suspended flights because of the conditions.

UK Athletics Ltd and a former head of sport for a major London games have been charged with manslaughter following the death of Paralympian Abdullah Hayayei, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

United Arab Emirates athlete Mr Hayayei died aged 36 after a metal throwing cage fell on him while he was shot put training at Newham Leisure Centre in London in 2017.

The Paralympian was pronounced dead at the scene after he was struck by a metal pole in the incident.

He was training in preparation to represent his country in the shot put, discus and javelin at the World Para Athletics Championships which began in London later that week.

Teams and coaches from several nations were present at the time of the tragedy.

Keith Davies, 77, the former head of sport for the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter and a health and safety offence.

UK Athletics has been charged with corporate manslaughter and a Health and Safety at Work Act offence.

Both UK Athletics and Davies are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday 31 January.

Malcolm McHaffie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service reminds everyone that criminal proceedings are active and both UK Athletics Ltd and Davies have the right to a fair trial.

“It is extremely important that there be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

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The Met Police launched an investigation following Mr Hayayei’s death on 11 July 2017, with the Crown Prosecution Service saying today that it has authorised charges following a review of evidence provided by the force.

Mr Hayayei made his Paralympic debut in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and was set to feature in his second World Championships in 2017.

Ed Warner, who was co-chair of London 2017, said after Mr Hayayei’s death: “This is a devastating event and everyone within the London 2017 Organising Committee is shocked and saddened.

“We will be working closely with all the competitors and teams over the days ahead to offer support wherever it is needed.”