A MAN who threatened to kill a nine-year-old boy and dump his body over a railway bridge is today starting a ten-month jail term.

A MAN who threatened to kill a nine-year-old boy and dump his body over a railway bridge is today starting a ten-month jail term.

The boy was attacked in Mill Lane, Felixstowe by 40-year-old Anthony Baker who pulled the youngster into an alleyway and held a pair of scissors just inches from his eyes.

Godfried Duah, prosecuting at Ipswich Crown Court, said: “He threatened to kill the boy and throw his body over the railway bridge.

“His motive seemed to be to scare the boy into shop-lifting with him.”

The court heard that Baker, who lives with his parents in Hall Pond Way, had 92 previous offences recorded against him for committing burglaries and an assault.

Mr Duah said that on the same day as the September 12 assault, Baker went into WH Smiths in Hamilton Road and stole bottles of cola valued at £6.72 along with complimentary CDs.

Baker pleaded guilty to theft, common assault and having an article with a blade in a public place.

Neil Saunders mitigating said his client had difficulty “functioning in the 21st century”.

He added that alcohol and drug abuse had featured in Baker's offending behaviour.

Mr Saunders said: “He is impulsive. He doesn't think things through because he is incapable of thinking things through.”

He urged Judge David Goodin to pass a suspended prison sentence with a period of probation supervision which would address Baker's problems.

Judge Goodin said: “I have a duty to protect the public and indeed nine-year-old boys. This is the 40th time you have been sentenced for theft or a similar offence.

“You behaved in a terrifying way to a nine-year-old boy and you're intention was to cause fear and you did so.”

What do you think of the case? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk