A JUDGE told the knife killer of Brighton teenager Jay Kensett his attack was cowardly and vicious.

Judge Richard Brown sentenced unemployed Darren Mateer, from Whitehawk, to life imprisonment for 16-year-old Jay's murder.

He said: "This case illustrates yet again the deadly consequences when young men like you take to the street armed with a knife.

"In my view, having heard all the evidence, Jay had done nothing that night to deserve any violence from you or from your brother.

"Your attack in my view was in the most cowardly and vicious manner that it is possible to imagine - you stabbed him in the back."

He added: "You have taken away Jay's young life and devastated the lives of his family and friends - the only appropriate sentence is life."

Jay's mother said after the verdict: "My life died the day my son was killed."

Kim Kensett broke down in tears and hurled abuse at Mateer as he was sentenced.

As husband John tried to comfort her,

40-year-old Mrs Kensett screamed: "You scum. I hope you rot in hell. My son

didn't even see you coming - you stabbed him in the back".

She swung her bag at Mateer, 31, as he was led away to the cells at Lewes Crown Court.

Jay died almost instantly when he was stabbed in the back by Mateer after getting into a fight with Mateer's brother, Jonathan, on the Whitehawk estate in March last year.

The court heard Mateer had a string of previous convictions and had been released from prison only days before the stabbing.

Jay died in the street in front of

his family and friends, and more than 50 packed the court to see his murderer jailed for life.

Speaking outside court, Mrs Kensett, of Pulborough Close, Whitehawk, said: "The man that killed my son was a coward - he stabbed my son in the back.

"My husband and I watched my son die in the street and it has devastated my family.

"I am satisfied that that man got murder, which he deserves, but that's that - I can't have my son back."

After hearing six days of evidence, the jury of eight women and four men returned a guilty verdict.

As Mateer was taken down, the crowds in the courtroom erupted in tears, abuse and insults.

But Judge Brown praised the family for their stoical behaviour during the trial.

Outside the court, Det Insp Malcolm Brown also stressed the deadly nature of carrying knives.

He said: "This was one single stab wound.

"Murder investigations are never nice to be on but when it is just a 16-year-old lad it seems even worse."

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