Revealed: 17-year-old murdered A-level student Ellie Gould, 17, in horrific knife attack when ‘she refused to be his girlfriend and was depressed after his father was diagnosed with cancer’

• Thomas Griffiths, 17, admitted murdering Ellie Gould, 17 at Bristol Crown Court 
• She was found stabbed to death at her parent’s home in Calne, Wiltshire in May 
• The pair were friends but Ellie didn’t want a boyfriend, her school friends said
• She said she was ‘too busy’ for a relationship and Griffiths stabbed her
• A source said Griffiths was depressed after his father was diagnosed with cancer

Guilty: Thomas Griffiths, 17, today admitted murdering Ellie Gould, also 17, at her home in Calne, Wiltshire on May 3 

The teenage killer of ‘kind and caring’ schoolgirl Ellie Gould stabbed her to death after she refused to be his girlfriend, MailOnline can reveal.

Thomas Griffiths, 17, was a close friend of the keen horse rider but wanted to take their friendship further.

When Ellie said she was ‘too busy’ for a relationship, Griffiths stabbed her multiple times at her parents’ home in Wiltshire, according to school friends.

They told MailOnline that Ellie and Griffiths were classmates at school where they were both studying for A-Levels.

‘Thomas wanted to take the friendship to the next level, but Ellie didn’t want a serious boyfriend,’ said a source.

‘She was so involved with her riding and also worked as a waitress at weekends. 

‘There just wasn’t time, and she told Thomas this. She wanted to remain friends but cool their friendship.

‘She had told him that they would see each other every day at school – but obviously it was not enough.

‘He went round to see her and we all know what happened.’

A source close to Griffiths suggested he was depressed after his father Sean had been diagnosed with cancer. 

Aspiring showjumper and A level student Ellie Gould, who was found dead at her home

Police at the scene in Calne, Wiltshire on May 3 after Ellie’s body was found there 

Griffiths drove to Ellie’s home on an estate in Calne, Wiltshire, on May 3, and stabbed her to death.

He sped away from the scene in his car and was arrested by police several miles away. 

Both his parents were at Bristol Crown Court to see him plead guilty to murder today.

He has been told he faces a mandatory life sentence for the crime.

A judge lifted reporting restrictions allowing Griffiths to be named and pictured saying the murder was ‘an exceptionally grave crime.’

Friends of the pair, who attended Hardenhuish School in Chippenham, said Griffiths had not previously been in trouble with police.

‘He was a good lad and just snapped,’ they said.

The death of Ellie has left her parents Matthew and Carol ‘shattered’, said a family member.

A map shows the killer lived just 2.6 miles away from his victim, who he stabbed to death at her home 

‘Their life has been wrecked and they are devastated. Ellie was so close to her brother and he is just beside himself with grief.

‘Their lives have been turned upside down and it will be years before they can recover.’

Griffiths lived just a few miles away from a teenager in an exclusive new build development where houses cost north of £400,000, and was arrested seven miles away from Ellie’s home later that day. 

Police were quickly able to identify him, despite him denying having seen her on the day of her death. 

He spoke only to confirm his name and reply ‘guilty’ when the murder charge was read to him. 

Judge Peter Blair QC, the Recorder of Bristol, said it was ‘appropriate, reasonable and proportionate’ for him to lift reporting restrictions that prevented the media from identifying Griffiths, describing the murder as an ‘extremely grave’ crime.  

Ellie’s family previously paid tribute to their daughter as ‘fun-loving and a joy to be around’.

They added: ‘We would like Ellie to be remembered as a kind, caring young lady with a wonderful, fun personality.’

Detective Chief Inspector Jim Taylor said today in a statement outside court: ‘While I am pleased that Ellie’s family will not have to endure a lengthy trial process in court which would have caused them further distress, I know just how difficult this whole period has been for them.

Ellie is pictured riding a horse on her beach. Her family said she had a ‘huge love of animals’

‘They should have been enjoying the school holidays with their daughter, but instead, they are coming to terms with the fact she has been cruelly taken away from them in unthinkable circumstances.

‘From what they have told me, Ellie was an extremely popular, fun-loving, kind, gentle and caring girl. 

‘Her tragic death has shocked the community of Calne, as well as the many young people and teaching staff at Hardenhuish School, where Ellie was studying.

‘Nothing will ever fill the void that Ellie’s death will leave in the lives of all those who knew her, but I hope that this outcome, and the upcoming sentencing, provides them with some comfort and enables them to concentrate on remembering Ellie and the many happy memories they have of her. 

Griffiths lived just over two and a half miles away from his victim, in a quiet rural street (pictured) lined with new-build homes that are worth as much as £418,000

‘My thoughts, and those of all at Wiltshire Police, remain with them.’ 

Lisa Percy, headteacher of Hardenhuish School, where Ellie studied, added: ‘The whole community at Hardenhuish was completely devastated by the death of Ellie back in May. 

‘Ellie was an extremely popular student in our lower sixth form, who was preparing for her A-Levels the following year.

‘She was popular, friendly and very talented, and understandably her death has hugely impacted on our school. 

‘Her close knit group of friends have shown strength beyond their young years in the months that have followed Ellie’s death, and have supported one another extraordinarily well. 

‘We continue to support our students with the help of partner agencies who have been invaluable to our school during such an unprecedented time. Our thoughts continue to remain with Ellie’s family at this time.’ 

Ellie’s father Matthew and mother, Carole, 48, owned a kitchen fitting business. She is also survived by her 19-year-old brother Ben. 

Thomas Griffiths has pleaded guilty to the murder, which took place in Calne, Wiltshire on May 3 (scene pictured)  

In a statement released after the horrific murder in May, her family described her as an animal lover who enjoyed summer holidays to Devon and attending school.

They said: ‘We would like Ellie to be remembered as a kind, caring young lady with a wonderful fun personality.

‘From a young age, Ellie had a huge love for animals.  

‘Ellie loved the Sixth Form at school where she was studying for A levels.

‘She had built up a close group of friends who would often meet up at weekends and do activities such as the Escape Rooms. 

‘She would often ask if the group could meet at our house – “It’s just a gathering mum, not a party,” she’d say.

‘We talked about visits to university open days and apprenticeships within the police force – she wondered if she could get into the mounted police with her riding skills.

‘Whilst she was excited about the next step in her life she also said, “But I don’t want the sixth form to end as I love it so much”.

‘Ellie had a lovely relationship with her older brother growing up, they rarely argued as she was fun loving and a joy to be around. 

Judge Blair told Griffiths: ‘Your case is going to be adjourned for sentence to November 8.’

The defendant, wearing a white shirt and dark blue suit, was remanded in custody until that date. 

Ellie Gould’s family’s statement in full  

A statement from the Gould family reads: ‘We would like Ellie to be remembered as a kind, caring young lady with a wonderful fun personality. 

‘From a young age, Ellie had a huge love for animals Every Spring we would visit Lackham during the lambing season, and during the summer holidays we made many visits to animal farms to hold chicks, rabbits and feed baby animals.

‘On her first day at primary school she put holes in her brand new shoes as she spent every playtime playing with her friends crawling around on her hands and knees being a cat.

‘Ellie also loved our summer trips to Devon to stay at our aunt and uncle’s house – she loved their puppy Elsa and whilst the other young cousins were scared of the lively puppy jumping up, Ellie wasn’t and had a wonderful way with animals, calming the puppy and making it do whatever she wanted.

‘Every year from a young age, a pony always featured on her Christmas or Birthday wish lists.

‘As her parents, we tried to get away with buying a hobby horse to run around the garden on. The pleas continued so we adopted an Exmoor Pony, however due to the distance, we could only visit twice a year.

‘Finally we decided as we lived in beautiful rural Wiltshire, we’d buy her a pony – Missy.

‘Missy was white with a long flowing mane and tail, she looked like a unicorn when she was white, although more often than not, she looked brown as she loved rolling in mud.

‘Ellie spent hours brushing her and plaiting her mane and tail. She loved showing her off at local shows in ‘prettiest pony classes’ and was so proud one year to come first at Foxham show in the ‘best family pony class’.

‘Ellie’s natural riding ability improved immensely and in no time she was ready to move onto her next pony – Blackjack.

‘Again, winters and summers she competed in local shows and cross country events. It was nail biting to watch as she would gallop past and fly over enormous cross country jumps.

‘She also spent the summer months often just herself and her beloved Blackjack hacking over Wiltshire’s beautiful countryside.

‘Ellie loved the Sixth Form at school where she was studying for A levels.

‘She had built up a close group of friends who would often meet up at weekends and do activities such as the Escape Rooms. She would often ask if the group could meet at our house – ‘It’s just a gathering mum, not a party,’ she’d say.

‘We talked about visits to university open days and apprenticeships within the police force – she wondered if she could get into the mounted police with her riding skills.

‘Whilst she was excited about the next step in her life she also said, ‘But I don’t want the sixth form to end as I love it so much’.

‘Ellie had a lovely relationship with her older brother growing up, they rarely argued as she was fun loving and a joy to be around.

‘We would like Ellie to be remembered as a kind, caring young lady with a wonderful fun personality.

‘Ellie’s favourite charity was Riding for the Disabled who run activities for disabled children and adults and we ask that any donations in Ellie’s memory are made to this charity so that they can continue with their fantastic work.

‘This is what Ellie would have wanted.

‘Finally, we’d like to thank the community in Calne and Hardenhuish School for their support and comforting words, as well as the police who have provided us with support over the past few weeks.’

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