Craig Robinson sent sent “grotesque” letters to a householder and his neighbours

Craig Robinson covered his face with his hand in the dock at Bradford Crown Court yesterday as a judge read aloud the words that brought fear and humiliation to his blameless victim.

Robinson, of Victoria Avenue, Brighouse, pleaded guilty to making a threat to kill on October 21 last year.

He sent his victim a letter addressed to “The Rapist” and ending “Die, die, die” that was opened by his daughter, prosecutor Robert Galley told the court.

Robinson also sent letters to the family’s neighbours saying: “I am going to murder that raping parasite” and inviting them to “enjoy the show when it comes”.

Judge Jonathan Rose told Robinson: “You engaged in a grotesque, repulsive and deeply damaging piece of behaviour.”

Branding the letters “disgraceful and disgusting” the judge said they caused significant harm to his victim and his family.

He said Robinson was a hard working, decent, family man whose mental health had deteriorated.

He was full of hate and in “a very, very dark place,” when he penned the letters, attaching a photograph of his victim to those sent to neighbours.

The court heard that Robinson was trapped by fingerprint evidence and repeated his threats to kill his victim to a police officer interviewing him six months later.

Mr Galley said the man targeted by Robinson had never had a complaint made against him to the police.

Giles Bridge, Robinson’s barrister, said his client was a forklift worker who left his job after he was bullied. His mental health deteriorated and he became withdrawn from society.

He acted on a genuinely held belief in a totally inappropriate way.

“He recognises the real hurt he has caused to the complainant and his family and to his own wife and children,” Mr Bridge said.

Judge Rose made a restraining order banning Robinson from doing anything to harm his victim or his family.

• Read the full story Friday’s T&A