A teenager who stabbed another youth with a 20cm carving knife at a house party in London Colney has been jailed for six years.

Lician Savin, of Hawkins Close in Borehamwood, was 17 when he went to a house party on Norris Close carrying the large blade.

He heard about the gathering through messaging platform WhatsApp, but had not been personally invited.

At 11.30pm on September 2, 2017, the victim was standing by himself in the living room waiting for a taxi home when he heard Savin shout: “Have you got a problem with me?”

Savin then attacked the victim, punching him in the head, back, and shoulders.

He was rushed to hospital to have surgery for his injuries, which included multiple stab wounds in his head, shoulder and armpit, slash wounds on his back, and a broken finger.

Wounds from the attack have left the victim with permanent scars.

Savin fled the house in a car and asked a friend to dispose of the knife, wrapped in clothing.

Police officers later found it at the other boy’s home, with the victim’s DNA on it.

Savin, who was already on bail for an attempted robbery, was arrested the day after – on September 3.

The now 19-year-old pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause serious bodily harm and possession of a bladed article, and was sentenced to six years in a young offenders institute at St Albans Crown Court on April 17.

Judge Stephen Warner was told the victim had been deeply physically and psychologically affected.

A statement by the victim’s parents was read out in court, detailing how their son had changed from a happy and outgoing boy to introverted and isolated.

It said: “We would like our old son back who wants to live life to the full and experience things.”

Defending Savin, Andel Singh said since the offences his client had “changed substantially”, adding: “Nothing I can say can diminish the seriousness of the offence. I accept this was a horrendous attack for no reason at all.

“Nothing I can say can express the remorse he feels.”

Passing sentence, Judge Warner described the attack as “horrendous”.

“Those who go out armed with knives can expect to lose their liberty for a significant amount of time,” he said.