A woman told detectives her lesbian lover stabbed a teenager to teach him a lesson, a court has heard.

Lorraine Large made the allegation in a statement to police after her arrest following an attack on the 13-year-old in December last year.

Large, 22, of Foxes Croft, Barnham, near Bognor, and her partner, Gemma McGarvie, 18, of South Terrace, Littlehampton, deny attempted murder and wounding the boy with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Lewes Crown Court heard both women have blamed each other for the attack.

The boy was stabbed 23 times near the seafront after a party at McGarvie's flat last December.

In a statement to police, Large said on the evening of the attack the boy was drunk and had been sick on a bed.

She said McGarvie had been shouting at the boy - who cannot be named for legal reasons - and asked her to help get him out of the flat.

Large said: "I told her to leave him. She took a knife out of her pocket. She stabbed him in the back. He was screaming.

"She was flailing this knife around. I attempted to lift him. Gemma told me to move away or she would slice me up.

"She said if I phoned an ambulance I would not see the light of day.

"I did not cause any injury to the boy."

The trial continues.