A boy accused of torching a school was framed by a suspected arsonist, a court heard.

The 16-year-old defendant is alleged to have broken into Tideway School in Newhaven and set fire to a bundle of papers before stealing a can of Coke, some biscuits and a sachet of soup.

Lewes Crown Court heard the blaze in April caused damage costing several million pounds.

Jeffrey Lamb, defending, yesterday told the jury the fire was actually started by a 17-year-old boy who had been in several fights with the defendant.

Police had arrested the 17-year-old at his home on suspicion of arson for the school fire but later released him on bail.

Speaking via a video link, he told the jury the defendant had spotted him in town and asked him if he would help him steal some computers from the school.

He said: "I told the police what he had said to me. I told them he asked me to do a burglary because I didn't want to get into trouble for something I didn't do."

Mr Lamb said the burglary was in fact the 17-year-old's suggestion.

He said: "Why would he call you over to ask you to rob Tideway School? You are not friends. What I'm going to suggest is he asked you where he could get some money from and it was you who suggested Tideway School."

Mr Lamb told the court the 17-year-old's father sold laptop computers.

He also suggested the boy later boasted about "stitching" up the defendant.

A can of Lynx deodorant found in the school grounds may have been used to start the fire.

The 17-year-old boy admitted he was part of a group which had bought a lighter and a can of Lynx deodorant prior to the blaze but insisted he was at home at the time of the fire.

He has been arrested on a number of occasions this year for, amongst other things, allegedly setting fire to a van and for allegedly making a hoax bomb call.

He is due to appear in court in October charged with setting fire to a car belonging to the defendant's father.

Mr Lamb told the court police have suggested the 17-year-old boy has also made threats to kill people.

He said: "You are not adverse to intimidating people, are you?"

When asked whether he had threatened people, the boy replied: "I can't remember. There are so many of them."

He added that he had not threatened people related to the case involving Tideway School.

The trial continues.