A man who sent a letter to the Chief Constable of Lancashire, Sacha Hatchett, which contained a threat to kill her, has been spared jail.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Christopher Wrigley also sent letters to a neighbour, a social worker and a security officer which also contained threatening messages.

Wrigley, 75, of Ballantrae Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to sending a communication to the Chief Constable which conveyed a threat of death, two charges of sending threatening messages to the social worker, two charges of sending threatening messages to the security guard and one of sending a threatening message to a female neighbour.

The letter to the Chief Constable was sent in July 2024, with the other letters sent across a four-month period in 2023.

He was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison suspended for two years, with a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

He was also made subject to two restraining orders, one in respect of the Chief Constable and one in respect of the security guard.

He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £154 victim surcharge.

Passing sentence the chair of the magistrates said Wrigley could easily have been sent straight to prison.

“If you breach any part of the sentence we impose that is where you will go,” he said.

Lee Woodyatt, prosecuting, said the letter to the Chief Constable was opened by a member of staff at police headquarters.

Some parts of the letter had been crossed out but were still readable.

The letter referred to the Chief Constable suffering a “horrible death” and said: “We are prepared to kill the Chief Constable of Lancashire Constabulary.”

Mr Woodyatt said there had been previous issues with the neighbour and previous correspondence sent by Wrigley.

“The police had spoken to him about that and warned him about his future behaviour,” said Mr Woodyatt.

In the letter to his neighbour, Wrigley said: “We’re coming to kill you so we suggest you exit this country quickly.”

The social worker had visited Wrigley with a colleague to see what support could be put in place for him.

“There were issues during the visit and he wasn’t happy for her to enter the kitchen area,” said Mr Woodyatt. “The letters were sent to her place of work.”

He said one of them contained the line, “evil bitch, die.”

The security officer was working in Blackburn Market and had dealt with Wrigley previously, when he told him he was barred from the market.

One letter referred to the officer as “evil scum” and said for the rest of his life he should be looking over his shoulder.

The second letter said: “This is a promise not a threat, you will be kicked to death in the near future.”

Robin Phoenix, mitigating, said it was clear his client had mental health issues although that did not excuse his behaviour.

“In the past he has been treated for schizophrenia,” said Mr Phoenix. “He put his own name, address and telephone number in all the letters.”

Mr Phoenix said his client was a very intelligent man who he thought would benefit from involvement with the Probation Service.