A man who pleaded guilty to common assault after holding a teenager at knife-point has been ordered to pay criminal compensation to his victim.

Alcohol-fuelled Dorset man Paul Riley, 28, held a 30cm blade to the 16-year-old boy’s chest after telling him to move a parked car in July 2009.

Stuart Ellacott, for the prosecution, said: “The youth, who was talking to his friends through a car window, said he wasn’t able to drive and Mr Riley jumped towards him, grabbing him around the throat and saying: ‘If you don’t move the car I’m going to stab you.’”

A terrified girl in the car jumped out, before Mr Riley said: “You’re lucky she was here, otherwise I would have killed you.”

Lawyers for the defence blamed Mr Riley’s actions on an alcohol problem which had started after he was made redundant, and that he was angered when a member of the group of youths shouted abuse at him.

However, Recorder Stephen Climie said in his decision: “Drunkenness is no excuse for this incident, which must have been terrifying for this young boy. It is the most appalling piece of behaviour; a drunken moment of lunacy.

“I think he should be compensated; if I send you inside he won’t be.”

Mr Riley’s sentence was deferred for six months, in order for him to save the compensation required to repay his victim.