Boy, 15, who murdered Leo Ross named after being sentenced to 13 years in custody

Boy, 15, who murdered Leo Ross named after being sentenced to 13 years in custody
Killer of teenager Leo Ross talking to West Midlands Police |

GB NEWS

Ben Chapman

By Ben Chapman


Published: 12/02/2026

- 12:49

Updated: 12/02/2026

- 14:03

A court order protecting his anonymity was lifted

The killer of 12-year-old schoolboy Leo Ross has been named.

A court order protecting his anonymity was lifted after he pleaded guilty to murder last month.


Kian Moulton, who was 14 at the time of the attack, stabbed Leo in the stomach while he was heading home from school in Birmingham in January 2025.

Moulton, now aged 15, was sentenced to a minimum term of 13 years at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday.

He also admitted a string of offences after he attacked three elderly women in the days leading up to the killing, with two of them suffering severe injuries.

Birmingham Crown Court heard the defendant was “a young man with formidable health problems” but was aware of the consequences of his actions.

Judge Mr Justice Choudhury KC said Moulton chose Leo because he was smaller than him.

After the attack, the teenager had cycled around Trittiford Mill Park telling people a boy had been stabbed, the judge added.

Moulton returned to speak with police officers

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WEST MIDLANDS POLICE

He said Moulton appeared to get “pleasure from seeing the consequences” of his actions.

Judge Mr Justice Choudhury KC said Moulton chose Leo because he was smaller than him.

After the attack, the teenager had cycled around Trittiford Mill Park telling people a boy had been stabbed, the judge added.

He said Moulton appeared to get “pleasure from seeing the consequences” of his actions.

Moulton returned to the scene after what happened and even spoke with police officers.

The 15-year-old was handed a life sentence but was told he would be eligible for parole after 13 years, and would remain on licence for life.

Detective Inspector Joe Davenport said there was no indication Leo and his killer knew each other, so it had been a “totally random attack”.

He called the killer a “truly dangerous individual”, adding: “We will likely never know why he decided to attack Leo, who was completely innocent.

Leo Ross12-year-old Leo Ross was stabbed in the stomach while walking from school in the Hall Green area of Birmingham last Tuesday | WEST MIDLANDS POLICE

Kian Moulton was 14 at the time of the attack

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WEST MIDLANDS POLICE

“From our investigation, it seemed he liked to cause violence before calling the police and watching the chaos he had caused.”

Leo’s mother spoke outside the court following the conviction, saying the 13-year-sentence was a “joke”.

“Thirteen years is a complete and utter joke, and it’s just going to keep on happening and keep on happening until something’s done about it”, she said.

“These kids aren’t scared. They aren’t scared of the sentence. They’re not worried.”

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