A FORMER hospital porter became obsessed with a waitress he met at a café and started sending her letters which she found frightening and threatening.

Raymond Price, of Sandy Lane, Saltney, then made a threat to rape her and subject her to extreme sexual violence.

He wrote down what he wanted to do to her and said other men would hold her down while he had sex with her.

Price was said to have become lonely after the death of his wife. He wrote that if she told anyone about the letters then she would “come off worse”.

But the victim told police and forensic tests on the letters led police to arrest Price, who admitted what he had done.

Price, 61, admitted a harassment charge and Judge Niclas Parry told him it was a very serious case.

“It involved threats of extreme sexual violence.”

The judge said Price, at the age of 61, was a man of good character, had been industrious and he was clearly lonely and suffering from mental health issues.

“This was a cry for help,” he said.

He received a 52 week prison sentence, suspended for two years and he was placed on supervision for two years.

The judge also made a restraining order and he is not to go within 100 metres of where she works or enter the town of Llangollen.

Elizabeth Bell, prosecuting, said the victim received four letters between March 10 and 29 in which threats of rape were made.

Gareth Roberts, defending, said Price admitted on the first occasion that he had sent repulsive and threatening letters to an entirely innocent lady.

“He will never act in this way again. He knows he has caused her distress, embarrassment and fear,” he said.

For 27 years he worked as a porter at the Countess of Chester Hospital but lost his job about eight years ago. A couple of years after that his wife died.

“Since then he has been a rather vulnerable and lonely man with few friends,” said Mr Roberts.

“My client is extremely sorry for what he has done. He understands the consequences of his actions upon her. He is someone who needs help.”

Price was being treated for depression, was being seen by the community psychiatric nurse and he would be assisted by the counselling suggested by the probation service.