James Forster (poison pen letter writer)
James Forster | |
|---|---|
| Born | James Forster 1933[1] England |
| Died | 2017 (aged 83–84) Manfield, England |
| Motive | Abuse campaign |
| Conviction(s) | Threatening to destroy property Sending indecent mail Incitement to commit burglary |
| Criminal charge | Threatening to destroy property Sending indecent mail Incitement to commit burglary |
James Forster (1933–2017) was an English academic and criminal who, between 1987 and 1999, orchestrated a hate campaign during which he sent 200 poison pen letters to residents of Manfield, district of North Yorkshire. A former Open University lecturer, he was found guilty of three counts of threatening to destroy property, three of sending indecent mail, and one of incitement to commit burglary.[1] He died in 2017.[2]
Early life
Forster was born in 1933 and was employed by the National Coal Board for 11 years before attending Kings College at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. There he studied for a BSc in applied sciences before taking an MSc and PhD.[1] He then lectured at the University of Nottingham for five years before joining the Open University. He rose through the ranks from staff tutor to senior lecturer between 1971 and 1998, including a spell as acting deputy regional director in 1995.[1]
Crimes
Arrest and trial
Forster was arrested in 2001[3] and after an eight-day trial at Teesside Crown Court, a jury took four-and-a-quarter hours to find him guilty of three counts of threatening to destroy property, three of sending indecent mail, and one of incitement to commit burglary. However, he was cleared of three charges of damaging neighbours' property.[1] He was also accused of throwing a paint bomb at a house and threatening to throw a paint bomb at a car.[2] Forster was sentenced to four months imprisonment, and made to pay costs.[3][4]
Later life and death
Forster returned to Manfield upon his release. He lived quietly with his wife until his death in 2017.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Academic guilty of hate campaign". BBC News. 9 August 2001. Archived from the original on 5 August 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Morris, Joanna (1 September 2017). "The poison pen letter writer of Manfield has died". The Northern Echo. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Bunyan, Nigel (12 October 2001). "Poison pen villager is jailed". Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 5 August 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ↑ "Hate campaign pensioner jailed". BBC News. 12 October 2001. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2020.