THE DETECTIVE responsible for catching an evil teenager who stabbed his friend 107 times has described the attack as "horrendous".

Lewis Ashdown "took advantage" of his victim's "trust and friendship" before violently murdering him, filming it on his phone.

Marc Williams "thought he was simply out enjoying an evening with a friend" when he was killed.

Ashdown was today jailed for life with a minimum of 27 years.

Senior investigating officer, detective chief inspector Emma Vickers, said: “This was a horrendous and unprovoked attack on a young man who thought he was simply out enjoying an evening with a friend.

“Lewis Ashdown took advantage of Marc’s trust and friendship, and killed him in a sustained and violent assault.

“Marc's family have behaved with the utmost dignity throughout this case and our thoughts are very much with them and Marc's friends at this incredibly distressing time.”

Ashdown, who was 19 at the time, lured Marc to woodland in Fairwarp, near Uckfield.

Lewes Crown Court heard how he stabbed Marc repeatedly before gouging out his eyes and dumping his half-naked body in a stream.

Ashdown then went to the cinema to watch The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It.

Three scenes from the film involved murder and multiple stabbings, showing similarities to Ashdown's merciless attack.

After his trip to the cinema, Ashdown got drunk and told a friend he had done something terrible before confessing and showing seven video clips from his phone of Marc before and after death.

Lewes Crown Court heard there was no explanation for the extreme brutality of his sustained and prolonged attack.

Her Honour Judge Christine Laing QC said: "You killed Marc Williams for some perverted reason of your own which we may never know or understand."