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Man is jailed for boys' 'gun' terror

Thursday, 21st December 2000.

THREE teenage boys were terrorised by a Haverhill man with what appeared to be a gun, a court heard.
But it turned out to be cigarette lighter in the shape of a pistol, Ipswich Crown Court was told, when Christopher Tegg, 30, of Beaufort Court, appeared for sentence before Recorder John Dodd.
Tegg had been committed to the Crown Court for sentence by Haverhill and Sudbury magistrates.
At the lower court he admitted a charge of affray ­ relating to the incident with the gun-like cigarette lighter ­ and two charges of house burglary.
Tegg was jailed for a total of 27 months ­ 18 months for the burglaries and nine months, to run consecutively, for the affray.
Before sentencing Tegg, Mr Dodd read a report from the probation service.
Commenting on Tegg's abuse of drugs and alcohol, Mr Dodd said this was "absolutely no excuse" for the offending.
Mr Dodd added: "Indeed, it adds to the fear of those who have the misfortune to encounter you while you are committing offences."
The recorder also pointed out the incident with the imitation gun was committed while he was on bail for the burglaries.
Mr Dodd said the eldest of the three boys was 16 and the other two were 14.
"They must have been utterly terrified", he said.
Earlier, Tegg's own barrister, George Keightley said this was an "appalling" thing to do.
Commenting on Tegg's drug and alcohol abuse and the offences flowing from it, Mr Keightley told Mr Dodd: "He is resolved to seek help on his release."
Mark Phelps, prosecuting, told the court that one of the burglaries was at the flat in Somerset Court, Haverhill.
After breaking in, Tegg stole items which included a 28-inch television, a ghetto-blaster, a video recorder and a microwave oven.
The other burglary was at a bungalow in Wellington Terrace, Haverhill, where a video recorder and a mobile phone were among the items stolen.
Dealing with the affray Mr Phelps said this incident took place in a Haverhill street.
Tegg pointed the imitation gun at the head of one of the 14-year-old boys and said: "Have you got something to smoke?"
The boy replied that he did not have any money and Tegg said: "I don't want your money." He told them he was high on heroin. The boys walked along with him out of fear, but he eventually left them.

Haverhill Weekly News

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