A SOUTHAMPTON teenager left another within inches of death after plunging a knife into his abdomen.

The teenager, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, went "into a trance" as he stabbed out at his friend during a drug and alcohol-fuelled evening in Cranbury Place, Southampton.

Before the incident, the 17-year-old said to a friend he "felt like he wanted to kick off with everyone".

The victim was left with a 14cm laceration to his liver and was rushed to Southampton General Hospital with life threatening injuries.

Describing the impact, the victim - who also cannot be identified due to his age - said in a statement to Southampton Crown Court he "struggled to sleep at night" following his ordeal.

Sentencing the teenager to four years in a youth detention centre, Judge Gary Burrell QC said the victim could have died in the "grave" episode.

Prosecutor Syan Ventom told the court the teen had been out drinking and taking drugs with friends before returning to the address in St Mary's.

As the group returned, the teenager shouted at a friend that he was going to stab him, the court heard.

The friend then said "go on then, stab me", so the teenager plunged a 6cm knife into the victim before fleeing the scene.

Mr Ventom said: "He had taken three lines of cocaine which he said made him feel weird. He said he felt like he just wanted to kick off with everyone."

Along with the class A drug, the defendant consumed a cocktail of substances and alcohol including vodka before he went to a party.

Elisabeth Bussey-Jones, mitigating, said the incident was "completely out of character" for the teenager, who had no previous convictions before the stabbing.

She told the court he was left "horrified" by what had happened but had no recollection at all of the incident.

Ms Bussey-Jones added the defendant, who pleaded guilty to wounding with intent, possessing a knife in a public place and common assault, had written a letter of apology while urging Judge Burrell QC not to send him to prison.

But Judge Burrell QC said the offence was so serious and the injuries sustained so severe his only option was to sentence him to custody for four years.