AN AXE was hurled at a prominent Merseyside businessman after a Cayman Islands property deal turned sour, a court heard.

Robeel Hussain went to John Ball’s home and threatened him with an axe after demanding back his deposit on three plots of land in the luxury Caribbean islands.

Liverpool crown court heard the 20-year-old lost his job after giving Mr Ball the cash, so went to the businessman’s home in Selworthy Road, Birkdale, to reclaim it.

He waited until Mr Ball’s wife and children went to bed before ringing the bell.

When Mr Ball reached the gates outside his house, Hussain stepped from behind a pillar and told him: “I’m going to f------ kill you.”

The court heard Mr Ball called him a “clown” and asked if he was “completely mental” before ringing the police.

It was only then he realised Hussain was clutching the axe.

Ian Davies, prosecuting, said Mr Ball had seen Hussain earlier that day, when the defendant tried to pay the balance on the land and his credit card was declined.

He told the court: “Mr Ball rang the police with the defendant standing there. He said something to the effect the defendant was wearing Calvin Klein jeans.

“It is suggested Mr Hussain lifted the axe and threw it at Mr Ball. He ducked and it hit the wall.”

The court heard Hussain bought the axe for £5 in Southport before going to Mr Ball’s home on July 1.

Later, while on remand, he rang Mr Ball and told him to drop the charges or he was a “dead man”, the court heard.

Police traced the call to a Liverpool phone box and used CCTV to identify him.

Douglas Stuart, defending, said Hussain was a hard worker from a good family and found out about the Caymans deal online. He told the court Hussain, of Whittingham Lane, Broughton, Preston, claimed he paid £15,000 in deposits, whereas Mr Ball insisted it was £3,000.

Hussain admitted making threats to kill, having an offensive weapon and intimidating a witness.

Judge David Harris, QC, told him it was a “sad thing indeed” to send a young man with no previous convictions to custody.

Hussain was sent to a young offenders’ institution for 27 months, minus 122 days served.