Teenager stabbed outside Hastings pub named

Police have formally identified a teenager stabbed to death outside a pub following a dispute.

Student Jacob Woudstra, 17, of Mount Pleasant Road, Hastings, East Sussex, died outside the Shah public house in Mount Pleasant Road at about 3pm on April 5.

A post-mortem examination found the cause of his death was a stab wound to the chest, a Sussex Police spokesman said.

Two men arrested on suspicion of murder - a 31-year-old man from Rye and a 42-year-old man from Bexhill - remain in police custody.

Officers continue to work to establish the circumstances of what led to Jacob being stabbed.

Hastings district commander chief inspector Heather Keating said: "The local community - and in particular those who knew Jacob - remain in shock by this tragedy and our thoughts are with them all at this very difficult time.

"I would like to stress that this is not a random attack and the wider community are not at risk.

"The attack appears to have followed a dispute in the public house between individuals that knew each other.

"We appreciate that this crime will cause some fear and anxiety amongst the community and particularly among parents of fellow students and friends of Jacob.

"However, this type of crime is extremely uncommon and we do not want people to be unduly alarmed - this was not a stranger attack and Hastings remains a safe place to live, work and study."

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Raymer, from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: "Enquiries into this incident remain active and we would like to hear from anyone who has information about what happened but has not yet come forward to contact us immediately.

"Our thoughts remain with the family of the victim whilst we do everything we can to ensure that those responsible are caught and brought to justice."

PA