Adur police chief speaks out after Shoreham teenager is convicted of murder

He was speaking out after Shoreham teenager Kieran Wright (17) was jailed last week for a minimum of 12 years after admitting murdering his friend following a party at a West Sussex caravan park in July.

Wright used two kitchen knives and a table leg studded with a screw to kill Michael Morgan (15)following a generally light-hearted party at a caravan site in Brighton Road, Lancing.

Prosecutor Charles Miskin QC said Wright later carried out the murder "for no better reason than ill temper fired up by drink and an amount of cannabis".

CI Lawrence Hobbs, District Commander for Adur said: "We may never know why Wright murdered one of his closest friends on that evening, as a motive has never been established.

His defence counsel in court outlined that Wright, who was 16 at the time of the murder, had been drinking heavily and smoking cannabis during the hours before he attacked Michael.

"The death of Michael Morgan was a tragedy and our thoughts are with his family and friends.

"Deaths such as this graphically illustrate the dangers that can be associated with the taking of excessive amounts of alcohol or the use of cannabis by young people within our communities.

"Adur is no different to anywhere else in the UK.

For full story of how Adur Police are working to tackle issues of drink and drug abuse by young people, see West Sussex Gazette December 19