A TEENAGER thought she was going to be killed and her body thrown into the river after she was attacked and threatened by a drunk, a court heard.The 14-year-old girl who received hospital treatment after the incident feared for her life after Gary Lander put his hands round her neck.

By Amanda Cresswell

A TEENAGER thought she was going to be killed and her body thrown into the river after she was attacked and threatened by a drunk, a court heard.

The 14-year-old girl who received hospital treatment after the incident feared for her life after Gary Lander put his hands round her neck.

The 38-year-old from Dickens Road, Ipswich, had been out on a drinking session in the town, magistrates were told.

They heard that jobless Lander had threatened to kill the girl and another woman as he believed they had kept secrets from him.

South East Suffolk Magistrates ordered Lander's case to be dealt with at Ipswich Crown Court after he admitted assault causing bodily harm on the girl, assault by beating on a woman and two threats to kill.

Lander had his head bowed throughout the proceedings as Patrica Doggitt, on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service, outlined the facts of his case at the courthouse in Elm Street, Ipswich.

The court heard Lander had been drinking in a pub and later argued with a woman before punching her in the face.

He then grabbed the girl around the throat – an action which if more forceful could have rendered her paraplegic or taken her life, the court heard.

"He held her tight and she thought she was going to die," said Miss Doggitt, adding: "He head butted her forehead causing more bruising."

The woman pleaded with him to stop and he went away before returning and poking the teenager repeatedly in the eye. He also punched the teenager in the arm and shook her by the hips.

The pair were told two Londoners would kill them and no one would know because the bodies would be thrown in the river.

"They were both frightened and believed they were going to die," said Miss Doggitt.

Police arrived and both the woman and teenager received hospital treatment.

Lander said he had remembered being arrested but couldn't remember anything in between.

The woman's injuries included a large bruise, swelling to the face, a cut to the right eyebrow, sore left elbow, sore shin and thigh.

The teenager – who had to wear a neck brace in hospital – had injuries which included cornea abrasions, a sore head and bruising to the neck, chest and arm, a sore face and hips.

The case was transferred for sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court for a later date.