A KILLER who stabbed a teenager to death on an estate in Southampton could be freed from prison in just 556 days.

Damien Kershaw, pictured above, was given an indeterminate sentence with a recommendation he spend a minimum of three years in jail, minus the time he has already spent behind bars since the stabbing in April last year.

That means if 17-year-old Kershaw is no longer considered a risk to the public, he could be released on parole in 18 months for the killing of Daniel Loader.

Family and friends of Daniel criticised the sentence. As Kershaw was led away, Daniel's parents Paul and Patsy left the court in tears as cries of "disgusting" rang out from the public gallery.

Outside the court friends, many of whom wore T-shirts bearing a photo of Daniel, including his fiancee Chantelle Hunt, voiced their anger at the sentence.

Miss Hunt said: "It's disgusting, pathetic - I can't believe it."

Her sister Joanna added: "What sort of message does this send out to young people who think they can carry knives and get away with it? We haven't got justice today."

Hampshire Police Federation chairman Steve Price said: "I can understand why the family might look at 18 months and think that is too lenient.

"The police can only gather the evidence and present it to the court. It is then up to the justice system to decide on the punishment."

The sentence comes after more than 4,000 knives were handed in to police as part of a national amnesty to clamp down on knife-related crime.

Kershaw admitted the manslaughter of Daniel, 17, on the grounds of diminished responsibility. He was cleared by a jury of murder.

Jurors heard how the pair had been fighting after Daniel intervened to break up a fight between Kershaw and another friend outside flats on the Aldermoor estate.

Kershaw chased Daniel with a kitchen knife before fatally stabbing him twice in the back with the eight-inch blade. Winchester Crown Court heard how Kershaw was heard bragging about the stabbing, claiming he would see his friends in a year-and-a-half's time when he had served his time.

Mitigating for Kershaw, who can be identified as reporting restrictions were lifted, Owen Davies said the young man was "desperately sorry" for his actions.

"During the 16 years of his life he had been subjected to influences that fashioned the sort of boy he was," he said.

Police patrols were stepped up on the Aldermoor estate last night as emotions were expected to run high following the sentence. It is believed, however, the night passed off peacefully.