A STOWMARKET man who stole a pair of hair straighteners belonging to a schoolgirl and then pulled out a screwdriver when he was challenged by two of her friends has been jailed for five months.

A STOWMARKET man who stole a pair of hair straighteners belonging to a schoolgirl and then pulled out a screwdriver when he was challenged by two of her friends has been jailed for five months.

The schoolgirl bought the straighteners for £19.99 at the Argos store in Stowmarket but left them on a bench nearby, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Realising what she had done she returned to the bench and found 47-year-old Arthur Broadbent sitting next to her bag.

Two of her friends volunteered to approach Broadbent but when they spoke to him he stood up and walked towards them holding a screwdriver, said Christopher Paxton, prosecuting.

The two 17-year-old boys later told police they feared for their safety during the incident.

Broadbent, of Union Road, Stowmarket admitted theft and possessing an offensive weapon.

Julia Furley for Broadbent said her client had been left severely disabled following a road accident in 1997.

He had suffered a smashed pelvis and had undergone two hip replacements, had the bones in his arm replaced and had a false eye.

She said he had been carrying a screwdriver because he had been doing some DIY at his flat earlier in the day.