A BLACKMAILER jailed for threatening the owners of a Chinese takeaway in Leigh has had his sentenced lengthened.

Rafike Riaz was given two-and-a-half years in October but had his sentence extended today, Monday, after the same judge gave him a further 16 months to run consecutively for another blackmail offence.

Riaz, of Canada Street, Bolton, was on bail for the earlier offence during which he demanded cash from the owners of the takeaway where staff had put peas he claimed he did not want in his meal when he employed similar tactics at the home of a couple.

"You are a bully and you are a thug and you need to sort your life out," Judge Clement Goldstone, QC, the Recorder of Liverpool, told Riaz.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that 44-year-old Riaz, a doorman, turned up at the home in Tinkersfield, Leigh of Paul Leicester and Gemma Wondersley in August last year.

Charlotte Kenny, prosecuting, explained that Mr Leicester and Riaz's girlfriend Sarah Foster were on nodding terms and in July she had approached him for cannabis and to borrow £10 but he refused both requests.

On August 9 Riaz arrived at the couple's home, and accused Mr Leicester of offering "my missus" a joint, which he denied.

"Riaz challenged him to a fight and got more and more agitated. Miss Wondersley got in between them and the defendant swung his left hand over her and struck Mr Leicester on the right side of the face. It was more a slap than a punch," said Miss Kenny.

Miss Foster arrives and took hold of Riaz, telling him to leave which he did after uttering threats.

The next day Riaz returned telling Miss Wondersley, his girlfriend had "told him everything" and demanding "a grand otherwise he's dead."

She told him they did not have that sum and he grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her towards the grass verge, pointed out a parked car and told her they had to put the money in it.

He warned her: "Make sure he's got a grand. I'll kill him and I know guys at the Power Gym."

Miss Kenny said Miss Wondersley was frightened of him and felt very intimidated. She described him as "extremely menacing."

Mr Leicester later said in a statement that he too had been afraid of Riaz and they have since moved home.

When arrested and interviewed Riaz denied the allegations and claimed that Mr Leicester had been "mithering" his girlfriend and he just told him to stop.

Riaz pleaded guilty to common assault and blackmail. The judge made an indefinite restraining order to keep away from his victims.

Carmel Wilde, defending, said after his release he hopes to re-build his life.