A public schoolboy who launched an hour-long frenzied knife attack on his friend after stabbing him in the back has been jailed for nine years today.

Harry Schick, 17, tortured 16-year-old Gavin Doyle after arranging to meet him in Lloyd Park to sell him an air pistol on March 3 this year.

After walking together through the darkened wood to where the gun was apparently buried, Schick waited until his friend’s back was turned before stabbing him several times.

Despite the 16-year-old’s pleas to stop Schick spent the next hour making repeated and frenzied attacks, leaving Gavin with thirteen knife wounds to his chest, neck and arms and legs, as well as defence wounds to his hands.

The blood-soaked victim managed to call for help on his mobile after persuading Schick to spare his life, and spent several days in a critical condition in intensive care.

Schick was arrested on March 5 and denied all knowledge of the attack under interview, but he was charged with attempted murder and remanded in custody.

He pleaded guilty to the charge at the Old Bailey on August 16, and was sentenced to nine years in prison at the same court on September 27.

Detective Sergeant Tim Hammond of Croydon CID said: “This was a horrific and still apparently motiveless attack on a 16 year boy at the hands of someone he trusted as a close friend.

“The victim would almost certainly have died had it not been for the quick response of the Police and London Ambulance Service.

“This has been a complex investigation, but thanks to the hard work and dedication of the officers involved a very dangerous individual has been put behind bars for a long time.

“For such a young man the victim has shown a great deal of resolve throughout the investigation and he can now make a start on getting on with the rest of his life.

“I would like to thank the victim and his family for their courage and cooperation throughout the investigation.”