THE teenage boy who stabbed Jack Large to death has been sentenced to five years' detention.

The 16-year-old boy, from Chigwell, had been found guilty of the manslaughter of Jack, who died on Chigwell’s Limes Farm estate, in December after being cleared of murder.

A 14-year-old boy, also from Chigwell, who handed the killer his knife and admitted to possession of an offensive weapon, was given a three year supervision order.

Jack Large, 14, of Yeomen Way, Hainault, was attacked in Limes Avenue, on November 30 2007.

He was stabbed in the back and head with the second blow striking so hard the knife became embedded to the hilt.

His killer, who was 14 at the time, will have the 409 days he has already served in custody taken off his sentence.

Speaking at Chelmsford Crown Court on January 16, his defence barrister Sallie Ann Bennett-Jenkins QC said during her client’s stay at his secure unit he had earned an unblemished record and had even intervened when a member of staff had been assaulted.

She said: “[He] is a young man of good character. He is intelligent and thoughtful. He was the very last person staff at his school expected to be involved with the police in general terms and certainly in a case like this.”

Richard Kelly, mitigating for the 14-year-old defendant, said judge Sir Michael Astill should take into account his client’s time already served.

He added: “He has no previous convictions and benefits from a loving and supportive family.

“He carried a knife. It’s a sad fact that he’s not alone in doing that. On the night itself he wasn’t alone in doing that. It’s become a problem that’s reached epidemic proportions.”

Sentencing the 16-year-old to five years' detention in a youth offenders institute, Sir Michael said: “I accept and have considered the behaviour of Jack Large during the course of this evening and even on other occasions. There’s no doubt you perceived him as a threat and it was for that reason you armed yourself with a knife.

“Your use of force derives I have no doubt from your loss of temper. That took the life of a young boy with all the tragic consequences that follow from it. I must mark that with a sentence that shows you that use of knives will be met with severe punishment.

“I take into account every single thing I know about you- your display of intelligence and remorse. You may therefore more easily understand that violence is not tolerated or considered lightly by this country where we live.”

Sir Michael ordered the boy’s co-defendant to come down from the dock to the bench before rebuking him for his lack of remorse.

He said: “I’m not satisfied that you are even sorry. That you have done nothing wrong. But let me tell you what you have done; you have played a part in the death of a boy of about your age.

“You have caused a lot of anguish to his family, just as if you had died there would be anguish in your family. If you’re not sorry for that there’s something seriously wrong with you. I’m disappointed I can not at least consider a custodial sentence for you because it might make you realise that this is not trivial.

“Let me tell you what I think. I think you like to be big. That you like to show off. That you like to be seen as someone you are not- a big strong lad. So you carry a knife. That doesn’t show strength, that shows weakness.”

Jack Large’s family, who were present throughout the sentencing, reacted angrily to the sentences before storming out of court.

Jack’s mother, Julie Maddison, had previously condemned the manslaughter verdict given as “disgusting.”