A WOMAN spoke of her relief today as a former lover was jailed for four years after waging a hate campaign against her.

Mark Lawrence, 40 was responsible for an 'evil' catalogue of incidents against Janet Hayes, 39, after their relationship broke down.

And the judge ruled he should never go near his victim ever again after placing an order on him and said: "I hope that will protect her for life"

The pair met while working for Blackburn with Darwen Council's housing department.

Miss Hayes said the experience had been "traumatic" not just for her but for her five-year-old daughter.

Lawrence distributed posters to neighbours of Miss Hayes wrongly accusing her of living with a paedophile.

He also sent out false information claiming her brother-in-law was a leading member of the National Front.

Miss Hayes, of Heys Lane, Blackburn, said she received threats over the telephone as a result of the posters and seriously thought about moving home. She said after the case: "I am just relieved it's over and he is in prison. I think it is the right sentence and I'm looking to put it behind me.

"It has affected me and my daughter but hopefully things will get better."

Neil Standage, prosecuting, said Lawrence, of Philip Street, Blackburn, embarked on the campaign after his four month relationship with her ended in October 2000. They both worked for Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council in the housing department, which has since been taken over by Twin Valley Homes.

The company's chief executive, Phil Richards, said today Lawrence was sacked from his job just before Christmas when the allegations against him came to light.

Miss Hayes thought the relationship had ended on friendly terms but on April 28 last year she received the first of a catalogue of threats.

She received a jiffy bag containing a CD case which had a razor blade sticking out of it.

Inside was a letter made from cut up newspapers and other publications saying: "The razors are infected. If you want to know why you are going to die ask Paul."

Mr Standage said Paul was a man Miss Hayes had seen after the relationship had ended, although she was no longer seeing him. On May 12 Janet received another letter saying she was a bad woman and " I'm coming to get you."

There was also a series of silent phone calls made from public phone boxes. Just over a week later Janet received a letter which threatened her and her child.

Mr Standage said neighbours were sent posters saying there was a paedophile living at her address. The letters gave her address and phone number.

In October Lawrence took a wheel brace and removed four wheel nuts from one wheel of her car and then put on the hub cap. She was not injured when the wheel fell off but the car was damaged.

After the poster campaign Miss Hayes received a letter which said: "I'm still here watching and waiting. I have saved one of the blades and am going to use it to cut your throat from ear to ear so I can watch your life slip away"

She said: "I feared for my life, I genuinely thought he was watching me. The letter where he threatened to cut my throat is imprinted on my brain. I will remember that for a long, long time.

"Even now when I get letters at work marked confidential, I shake when I open them."

Richard Bennett, defending, said Lawrence had expressed genuine remorse to the victim. He had an exemplary career history with time served in the Navy as a sub-marine sonar operator.

He had worked for Securicor and latterly for Blackburn Borough Council.

Mr Bennett said the case was "bizarre, upsetting and unusual". Lawrence had described how the whole thing was about the need to control. If she was frightened enough she would come back to him.

Lawrence pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to damaging property with intent to endanger life, harassment and making a threat to kill.

Judge David Boulton told him: "Over a period of six months last year you committed a series of acts which in themselves were evil. I do not consider you to be an evil man.

"I don't believe at the time you realised the massive impact they had on Janet Hayes and her family but also Janet Hayes and her neighbours."

Judge Boulton also made an order under The Prevention Of Harassment Act preventing Lawrence from getting into contact with Miss Hayes.