M'sian teen, 17, sentenced to life in UK for hammer attacks on sleeping schoolmates

A 17-year-old Malaysian boy was given a life sentence in Britain for attacking his schoolmates and a teacher with a hammer that caused severe injuries.

A judge lifted the gag order on the identity of Thomas Wei Huang, New Straits Times reported on Nov. 2.

The incident occurred in June 2023, when Huang, attacked two male students as they slept at Blundell’s School in Tiverton.

The location is a boarding school in Devon.

Huang was 16 then and he admitted to the attacks.

Injuries sustained by the victims included skull fractures, rib damage and internal bleeding, as well as a punctured lung.

A male teacher had tried to stop him, but Huang struck him on the head several times.

Another student alerted the police after hearing the sounds of the attack.

Claimed he was sleepwalking

However, Huang also claimed he was sleepwalking and pleaded not guilty to attempted murder on grounds of insanity.

The court heard he possessed an unusual fixation on hammers and kept them by his bed in case of a "zombie apocalyse", and had disturbing fantasies about hurting children.

The Exeter Crown Court found that Huang had premeditated the attacks, acknowledging the potentially deadly consequences.

The judge said during Huang’s sentence hearing in October that he possessed a “high level of danger” to the public, with a high risk of reoffending.

Huang's life in prison sentence will see him serve a minimum of 12 years.

Top photo via Devon and Cornwall Police