A Teenager whose best friend died in a car crash has been jailed for a stabbing.

Dean Ellis was among friends who paid tribute to Barry Mackay and four other teenage victims at the scene of the crash in St Leonards-on-Sea.

Barry, 15, was killed along with Kelly Goring, 17, Danielle Martin, 16, Lee Morgan, 14, and Daniel Carwardine, 16.

They died instantly when a Rover Metro being followed by police smashed into a stone wall in Battle Road, St Leonards, last October.

The tragedy has had a sobering effect on Ellis, 18, who has not been in trouble since and has started doing voluntary work, Hove Crown Court was told. But in June last year, Ellis, of Beecham Place, stabbed David Roberts in the back after a drinking game at a party in St Leonards went wrong.

Mr Roberts was struck with such force that the tip of the knife broke off after hitting one of his ribs. It was not realised that the remnants of the blade were still inside him when he was discharged.

Mr Roberts then collapsed outside the Conquest Hospital, Hastings, the next day and underwent an emergency operation.

Ellis denied wounding him with intent to cause grievous bodily harm but he pleaded guilty to the less serious charge of unlawfully wounding.

Judge Kemp jailed Ellis for 20 months when he appeared for sentence yesterday.

Shaun Esprit, prosecuting, said Ellis had six previous convictions for offences which included theft.

Richard Body, defending, said Ellis had been bullied by others, including Mr Roberts.

He said: "He knows he has behavioural problems which have resulted in him committing offences when he has been drinking."

Judge Kemp told Ellis: "You must have struck him (Mr Roberts) hard because part of that knife remained inside him and he required surgery.

"Fortunately for you it did not puncture a lung, otherwise the consequences could have been very much graver."