A TEENAGE boy has denied stabbing a fellow student at a college.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is alleged to have stabbed another 16-year-old boy with a chisel at Prospects College in Southchurch Boulevard, Southend.

The pair, who are both from Laindon, were in a carpentry class when the alleged offence took place, on February 11 this year.

In a short hearing at Basildon Crown Court, the defendant pleaded not guilty to maliciously wounding the boy with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.

He appeared in court wearing a white hooded jumper and grey jogging bottoms with his mother by his side.

A trial will start on October 13 and is due to last ten days.

After the incident, the injured victim was taken by air ambulance to the Royal London Hospital for treatment.

He became paralysed down one side of his body as a result of his injuries.

It was not known whether the paralysis would be permanent and the police and college have not disclosed the victim’s current condition.