IT was an assault which shocked a whole community.

The vicious claw hammer attack on Henry Webster sent shockwaves among staff, pupils and parents at Ridgeway School in Wroughton, which has traditionally been regarded as one of the strongest academic schools in Swindon.

For police engaged in Operation Dakota, it turned out to be one of the biggest and most complicated investigations Wiltshire police had even seen.

During the course of the year-long inquiry, 979 people were contacted, 647 statements were taken, 2,858 documents compiled and 563 items were submitted as evidence for the Court to consider, as 40 people were prepared to appear in court as prosecution witnesses.

At about 4pm on Thursday, January 11, 2007, a 999 call was made to the police from Ridgeway School.

At 4.15pm PC Magee and PC Simms arrived at the school.

At least eight people were identified almost immediately as suspects in the attack on Henry.

Within 35 minutes of the attack, police tracked down a large number of the suspects “whooping and shadow boxing” in Salisbury Street in Broad Green.

Five youths were arrested at around 4.30pm in Salisbury Street. Wasif Khan was arrested at 4.32pm in Broad Street. He was in possession of a Phones 4 U carrier bag containing a D&G jacket and a quantity of cannabis. A 15-year-old and a 16-year-old were arrested at around 5pm in nearby County Road.

A police dog handler and officers searched the school and surrounding area looking for the hammer, which was never found, and other evidence.

On Monday, January 15, police set up a major incident room to investigate the attack. At the height of the operation, 20 officers and police staff were working in excess of 18 hours a day to establish the facts of the case. After further extensive enquiries, another nine suspects were identified. During the next three weeks, nine further suspects were arrested.

Forensic examinations were used to prove that blood on clothing worn by Wasif Khan, and two 15-year-olds belonged to Henry Webster. Fingertip searches of the cars and homes of the defendants were also carried out.

Mobile phones belonging to each of the defendants were sent to the Forensic Science Service in London for electronic data examination. Records of the calls were used in court to prove that the attack was orchestrated by mobile phone calls and text messages. Police officers carried out house-to-house enquiries at all of the homes with a view of the school tennis courts.

More than 1,400 leaflets were delivered to Ridgeway School to make sure no pupil was overlooked. The whole process was repeated 12 weeks later in case anyone who was initially reluctant could be persuaded to come forward.

The verdicts and sentences in May 2008 concluded more than a year of hard work for the team of 10 police officers and police staff working full-time on the investigation.

In the end, 13 youths and young men were sentenced for their crimes following two length trials held at Bristol Crown Court before Judge Carol Hagen.

With 16 defendants, the case was split into two trials. To make the case easier to deal with and so all the defendants and their legal teams could fit into the court, the defendants accused of the actual attack were separated from those accused of making arrangements to travel to the school. The first trial started on January 11, 2008, and the second trial on February 25, finishing on April 8.