A man who stabbed a former friend 11 times with a knife faced a retrial next year after a jury failed to reach a verdict.

George Mee, 21, admitted causing the wounds but claimed he was acting in self-defence. He denied attempted murder.

An 11-strong jury at Canterbury Crown Court has told a judge that after nearly 17 hours of deliberations there were unable to agree a verdict.

Judge James O’Mahony then discharged them and ordered a retrial next year.

Mee was accused of stabbing Liam May following a bust-up over postings on Facebook.

He told the jury that although he admitted stabbing his rival he never intended to kill him.

The two had clashed after a disagreement in a caravan parked at the rear of a house.

The victim needed treatment the wounds after the attack in Biggins Wood Road, Folkestone, in June.

Mee, of Cromwell Park Road, Folkestone, said: "It was never my intention to kill him. I am terrible sorry for what happened, terribly sorry. I feel disgusted with myself."

He said that in January this year he bought a knife from a fishing shop in Tontine Street.

Asked why he had bought the weapon, he replied: “I stupidly bought the knife for self protection."

He said he accepted he had caused the injuries with the knife, adding: “But I never intended to kill him - not at all. I really didn't know what I was doing."

He was remanded in custody until the new trial, expected in April.