Southport child killer Axel Rudakubana received care from an NHS mental health service for four years prior to his knife attack, a hospital trust has said. Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool said in a statement that Rudakubana “stopped engaging” with their services in February 2023, having been looked after since 2019.
The 18-year-old was given a a life sentence with a minimum term of 52 years on Thursday – one of the highest minimum terms on record – for murdering Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, at a dance class in Southport on July 29 last year.
He also attempted to murder eight other children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, class instructor Leanne Lucas and businessman John Hayes. Rudakubana was twice ordered to leave the dock as he repeatedly interrupted his sentencing hearing by claiming to be ill, having not eaten for 10 days.
In a statement on Friday, a spokesperson for Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust said: “Our thoughts remain with the families of Alice, Bebe and Elsie and all those affected by the events of 29th July. “We can confirm that Axel Rudakubana was under the care of Alder Hey Services including our Community Mental Health Service between 2019 and 2023.
“He had stopped engaging with the service in February 2023 despite continued offers of support. “Following the terrible incident last July, we are participating fully in a Children’s Safeguarding Practice Review commissioned by the Children’s Safeguarding Partnership, to identify if any learnings could be made.
