A SUFFOLK man who threw roof slates at a terminally-ill 83-year-old man has been jailed for 20 months.

William Leatherland was at his home in Hazel Close, Haverhill, at about 10pm when he heard loud banging outside, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

He came downstairs and when he opened the door he was confronted by Damien Stockwell who had been visiting his former partner who lived next door, said Michael Crimp, prosecuting.

Stockwell had thrown a punch at Mr Leatherland which missed, and told him: “I’m going to kill you.”

He told Mr Leatherland to come outside and Mr Leatherland who later told police “I’m old but I was angry” had gone outside and told Stockwell: “Come on hit me.”

Stockwell had then walked to the other side of the road where he picked up seven or eight roof slates which he threw at Mr Leatherland.

Two of the slates had made contact with him, causing bruising to his hip and forearm, Mr Crimp said.

During the incident Stockwell had said that if he couldn’t have his girlfriend, he wanted to go to prison and had been verbally abusive to police who arrested him.

Stockwell, 36, of Primrose Hill, Haverhill, admitted affray and resisting a policeman and was jailed for 20 months.

Sentencing him, Judge Peter Fenn said Mr Leatherland was suffering from terminal cancer and Stockwell had said to him: “Why don’t you die of cancer.”

Joanne Eley, for Stockwell, said her client’s memory of the incident was clouded by drink.