A TEENAGER charged with the manslaughter of a 17-year-old student sobbed in the dock as he made his first appearance before magistrates.

The young man, also 17 and who cannot be named for legal reasons, is charged with the manslaughter of Daniel Crowther, who died from head injuries in the early hours of Saturday morning after an alleged incident in Stokesley, North Yorkshire.

The accused, who is from Guisborough, appeared at Northallerton Magistrates Court for a preliminary hearing yesterday.(MAY16) He was dressed in a blue polo top and grey jogging bottoms. He spoke only to confirm his name and address and was remanded in custody.

Three other young people were arrested shortly after the alleged incident - a 17-year-old boy also from Guisborough, and a 25-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl from Middlesborough.

They have been released on conditional police bail.

Yesterday, Catherine Brooker, the headteacher of Stokesley School, where Daniel was pupil, paid tribute.

"We are all deeply saddened and shocked by the news of Daniel's death, she said. "Dan was a delightful boy, with a ready smile. He was bright, kind, gentle-natured and held in great affection by his teachers and fellow students. Our thoughts are with his family and friends."

A tribute page was set up on website Facebook and almost 1,000 thousand members signed up.

Daniel had been drinking with friends in the Spread Eagle pub on the night of the alleged incident.

He and a friend had then visited a nearby takeaway, College Pizzas.

Police were called to the scene at 12.05am on Saturday and Daniel was taken to James Cook University Hospital where he was pronounced dead at about 2.50am.

News spread fast of the teenager's death and crowds of pupils gathered around the spot where he died on the morning after.

More than 100 bouquets of flowers were laid in his memory.

The accused teenager will appear again at Northallerton Magistrates next Tuesday.