A KNIFE-WIELDING thug told a man he was going to decapitate him while threatening his family with a blade during a horror confrontation.

Robert Irving wore a balaclava and spoke about the devil as he arrived at his victim’s house in Market Close, Colchester on July 16.

Neighbours watched on as the 26-year-old waved a cleaver knife at the property while shouting “I’m going to chop your head off” at 6.15am, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

The terrifying incident caused a mother and her two adult children to fear for their lives as Irving’s tirade of alcohol-fuelled abuse continued for ten minutes.

Gazette: Behind bars - Robert IrvingBehind bars - Robert Irving (Image: Essex Police)

During this time, Irving scraped the knife across the floor for all to hear and stabbed it into a wooden post while approaching the property’s front door.

“I wonder if you realise how frightening that would have been,” said Recorder Peter Guest.

Irving, of Clarendon Way, Colchester, admitted threatening a person with a blade.

He was put behind bars for 18 months on Wednesday.

Subagarey Pathmanathan, prosecuting, said Irving initially sent offensive messages to his male victim after a disagreement between them arose just hours before his crime.

Gazette: Crime scene - Market Close, ColchesterCrime scene - Market Close, Colchester (Image: Google)

The messages included a screenshot of the victim’s mother’s Facebook profile accompanied by the message: “I want your mummy. Wait ‘til I see her. She’s sexy, I love old hag meat.”

His concerning behaviour escalated when he attended the man’s house and waved a knife towards it while filming himself and talking about the devil.

Irving, who has seven convictions for 19 previous offences, was arrested later that day.

A statement from the victim’s sister said: “This absolutely petrified me and I feared for my family’s lives.

Gazette: Sentence - Ipswich Crown CourtSentence - Ipswich Crown Court

“I thought he might come in and hurt me or my family.”

David Tremain, mitigating, conceded it was a “bizarre incident” but argued his client had been provoked.

The court heard Irving felt his victim had been racist towards him before the incident.

Mr Tremain said: “Given the time in the early hours of the morning and some of the things being said, this is an incident which is wholly out of character and is, largely, the alcohol talking.”