A BRICKLAYER threatened his son with a seven-inch meat knife on Christmas Day, leaving his family in fear of their lives, a court has heard.Peter Giddings was so angry that his wife thought he was going to “cut or stab” his son, Christopher, during the terrifying ordeal.

A BRICKLAYER attacked his son with a seven-inch meat knife on Christmas Day, leaving his family in fear of their lives, a court has heard.

Peter Giddings was so angry that his wife thought he was going to “cut or stab” his son, Christopher, during the terrifying ordeal.

The 49-year-old, of The Firs, Lakenheath, pleaded guilty to two charges of common assault when he appeared at Bury St Edmunds Magistrates Court yesterday.

He was given two 12-week concurrent prison sentences for the offences, both of which were suspended for two years, and a six-month curfew order.

Sarah-Jane Aitkens, prosecuting, told the court how Giddings, who works for the Ministry of Defence at RAF Mildenhall, had taken the serrated knife from the kitchen sink and waved it in the direction of his son's face after Christmas lunch.

“The defendant punched his son under the jawline,” she said. “Christopher was able to break free and phone the police, but the defendant then tried to push his bloody hand into the face and neck of his wife. “He then pushed a chair towards Christopher. The family were very distressed by the time the police arrived.”

In a statement read out in court, Giddings' wife of 23 years, Deborah, said she feared for her and her children's lives during the incident.

“This is the final straw. I cannot take anymore. I want a divorce and him out of my life,” she said.

“I am tired of living in fear of my life and my children's. I do not want my children scared anymore. I want a new start and a better life for my family and me. The children do not want him home and are scared of him turning up.”

Claire Lockwood, mitigating, said Giddings had been living with his brother 126-miles away from Lakenheath since the incident.

“It is unfortunate that he found himself in this position on Christmas Day,” she said, adding that Giddings claimed he “elbowed”, and not punched his son.

District Judge, David Cooper, said Giddings, who spent Christmas night and Boxing Day in custody, had “got completely out of control”.