Sponsored by
'Hell and damnation' activist spared jail
An animal rights activist from Preston who sent threatening letters to suppliers of a research laboratory, has been spared jail.
Diane Jamieson sent anonymous letters to suppliers of Huntingdon Life Sciences, in Cambridgeshire, in which she threatened their loved ones.
She wrote to one supplier: "Stop dealing with Huntingdon Life Sciences or you could find the consequences of your actions pretty grim - having the remains of your loved ones removed never to be seen again. You have been warned."
In some letters she told the recipients that "hell and damnation" was waiting for them, Preston Crown Court heard.
The 60-year-old, of Wigan Road in Ashton, pleaded guilty to six counts of "interference with contractual relationships so as to harm an animal research organisation".
Mr Justice Irwin warned her she had escaped prison by a whisker and sentenced her on each count to 51 weeks in prison, suspended for two years.
The court heard she sent a total of 44 letters which were typed in capital letters and double spaced.
Prosecutor Roger Climie said she was passionate about animals and wanted to persuade people working for suppliers of Huntingdon Life Sciences to desist and find alternative work.
He said Jamieson began writing letters after joining the group Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) three years ago.
Mr Climie said she was traced by police after forensic tests revealed that the anonymous threatening letters and legitimate, signed protest letters she sent to suppliers originated from the same person.
>> Vote in our latest web poll
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Preston
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -3 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light sleet
Temperature: 3 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South east
