A teenager who wanted to escape the "toxic" environment of Tonbridge because of a feud with a former friend has been sentenced.

The night before social workers set in motion the move, Deejay Evans went into the town armed with a knife.

And a judge heard how he came across his rival, Lewis Davis, who was also armed with a knife in Tonbridge High Street.

Evans avoided the first blow but then launched a ferocious attack - plunging his knife into his victim's back, arm and leg before fleeing the scene and throwing the weapon into the river.

Maidstone Crown Court heard how the victim - who needed surgery for his wounds - has been left scarred.

Now Evans, who had just turned 18 prior to the March attack, has been sent to a Young Offenders Institute for four years after admitting wounding with intent.

Evans, of New Wharf Road, Tonbridge, had originally been charged with attempting to murder his former friend.

Prosecutor Martin Yale told how the two had been friends and associated together until they fell out and the atmosphere became hostile.

The knife attack was caught on CCTV and shown to the judge who described it as "disgusting and horrific".

Judge David Griffith-Jones QC said: "The rights or wrongs of that fall-out are not entirely clear but Evans had been the subject of threats of violence prior to the attack by the victim and his friends.

"The threats were such that you had withdrawn to a degree of isolation, living as a virtual recluse."

But on March 23 he went out with a friend and armed himself with a knife and clashed with the victim.

"The threats were such that you had withdrawn to a degree of isolation, living as a virtual recluse..."

The judge added: "The prosecution accepts that your victim went for you with his knife. He has confirmed as much in a chilling video posted by him on social media, in which he regrets that he didn't have a bigger knife and that when he tried to stab you he missed.

"What then ensued is that you swiftly deployed your own knife and you did so in a manner which was disgraceful and horrific and in a manner which went beyond self-defence.

"You stabbed your victim numerous times in what was a frenzied attack."

John Fitzgerald, defending, said Evans had been so concerned in the run up to the incident that he requested a move away from the area - it had been agreed by the authorities on the day of the incident.

After sentencing, DCI Neil Kimber, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: "This was an extremely violent assault on a young man who was fortunate to receive such prompt assistance from members of the public and paramedics.

"Evans left the scene without any concern for the fate of his victim and sought only to hide evidence of his involvement.."

"The victim is still recovering following hospital treatment and the traumatic impact of the incident will be with him for a considerable time.

"Evans left the scene without any concern for the fate of his victim and sought only to hide evidence of his involvement, by disposing of the knife in the nearby river.

"However, a prompt investigation by attending officers ensured that he was swiftly detained and evidence obtained to ensure a conviction."

To get the latest updates in ongoing cases, police appeals and criminals put behind bars, click here

Read more: All the latest news from Tonbridge