THE dad of murdered teenager Jay Whiston was confronted by a knife-wielding man who came into his shop, a court has heard.

Stafford Whiston, the father of Jay, 17, from Clacton, was behind the counter of Cash In Hand, in Queen Street, Colchester, on December 12 last year when Jason Aldis walked in holding a 10in knife.

Mr Whiston picked up a chair and put it between him and Aldis who continued making threats, including telling him he would come back for him.

As Aldis left the premises he smashed a display cabinet by the main door, causing £700 damage and picked up a £225 laptop computer and left without paying for it.

Two days earlier Aldis had been arrested for theft at the shop and on December 23 he had appeared before magistrates and was jailed for 14 days.

Aldis, of Old School Lane, Elmstead Market, admitted intimidation, damaging property and theft of a laptop computer and was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

He was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court on Wednesday.

The judge also ordered him to do 200 hours unpaid work in the community and to attend a 40-day rehabilitation activity programme and a Thinking Skills programme.

Aldis, 29, was also made the subject of a restraining order banning him from contacting Mr Whiston or going to Queen Street, Colchester, or New Street, Braintree.

Mr Whiston was contacted by the Gazette after the sentence but did not want to comment.

Jay was murdered at a house party in Marlowe Way, Lexden, in September 2012.

In May 2014 Edward Redman, 18, of Stanway, was jailed for a minimum of 17 years for Jay's murder.

After Jay’s death, his mum Caroline Shearer, set up the weapons awareness charity Only Cowards Carry.