AN aggressive beggar left a 15-year-old skateboarder in tears after he followed him through the centre of Newton Abbot and tried to mug him.

Ziggy Fakih was desperate for money to feed his heroin addiction and left the young victim terrified after he grabbed him in a headlock, threw him to the ground and threatened to stab or kill him.

The boy used his skateboard to try to fend him off and Fakih left empty-handed after the victim turned out his pockets and showed that he had no cash on him.

He humiliated the crying teenager by spitting on him as he left him slumped against railings at a traffic island where he carried out his attack.

Fakih, aged 30, of Tamworth Close, Ogwell, admitted attempted robbery and was jailed for 18 months, suspended for two years by Recorder Mr Martin Meeke, QC, at Exeter Crown Court.

He ordered him to undergo six months of drug rehabilitation, attend a thinking skills course and 25 days of probation supervision.

He told him: ‘You got the victim in a headlock and told him you were going to kill him. When he broke free, you chased him and attacked him again, telling him to give you his money or you would stab him.

‘That may have been a threat but if he had any money, you would have taken it. You compounded your appalling conduct by spitting at him.’

Mr Tom Bradnock, prosecuting, said the 15-year-old was walking to a skate park to meet friends on July 13 last year when Fakih approached him in Queen Street, Newton Abbot.

He asked the boy to supply him with drugs but the teenager said he was not involved with them. Fakih then tagged along with the boy before grabbing him in a headlock and trying to drag him into an alley.

He told the boy he was going to kill him but the victim escaped and ran off. Fakih chased him and caught up with him on a traffic island as he was trying to cross The Avenue.

Mr Bradnock said: ‘He pushed him against the railings and stood over the boy, who was holding his skateboard to protect himself. He said: “Give me money or I will stab you”.

‘The boy could not see a knife or a weapon but was very frightened. He turned out his pockets to show he had no money on him.

‘Fakih spat in his face, hitting his glasses and skateboard, and then left the scene.

‘The victim was very upset, shocked and crying.’

Miss Emily Pitts, defending, said Fakih volunteered for drug treatment shortly after the incident and has been free of heroin for the past three months.

He has been assessed as motivated to change by drug workers, who say he is a suitable candidate for a drug rehabilitation order.

A probation report said Fakih has sought to minimise the incident and described himself as an ‘aggressive and persistent beggar’. He accepted that the victim would have been upset and expressed remorse.