Kieran Zacharias, 17, and Charlie Saint, 16 got seven and five years each

Oliver Anfield Dennis, 19, was jailed for eight years at Lewes Crown Court

They were accused of stabbing the 16-year-old victim in a churchyard

The three teenagers were charged with wounding and violent disorder

Three baby-faced criminals who attacked and stabbed a 16-year-old boy in the picturesque grounds of a church yard in Hailsham, East Sussex have been jailed for a total of 20 years.

The victim was rushed from the scene by ambulance to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton for treatment.

Police were alerted by reports of a group of boys fighting in the churchyard on March 20.

The three trio were found guilty of wounding and violent disorder Oliver Dennis, left, was jailed for eight years, Charlie Saint, centre, received a five-year jail term while Kieran Zacharias, right, was jailed for seven years

The 16-year-old boy was stabbed in the church yard of St Mary's in Hailsham, east Sussex, pictured, in March

The three young men appeared in Lewes Crown Court on Friday charged with wounding and violent disorder.

Oliver Anfield Dennis, 19, from Hailsham pleaded not guilty to both counts.

Kieran Patrick Zacharias, 17 from Eastbourne pleaded guilty to both charges while Charlie Saint, 16, also of Eastbourne also admitted violent disorder, but denied the wounding charge.

All three men were convicted of all charges.

Dennis was jailed for eight years, while Zacharias received seven years. Saint, who was the youngest of the trio received a five-year jail term.

Speaking outside court, Inspector Tony Wakefield, of the Wealden Neighbourhood Policing Team, welcomed the sentences.

He said: 'Such incidents are extremely rare, which made this attack all the more shocking for the people of Hailsham.

'Knife crime will not be tolerated in Wealden and we welcome the length of the sentences, which gives out a clear message to anyone thinking about using a knife to harm someone else.