OAP fined over poison pen letters

A PENSIONER has been fined £300 for sending menacing letters to Scottish Parliament staff.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard John Campbell, 71, wrote the letters after getting annoyed by the MPs' expenses scandal.

Inquiries officer at the Scottish Parliament George Clark, 42, told the court of the moment he received a letter containing what he took to be death threats.

Reading from one of the letters he said: "You have until the day of St Andrews, 2008, to prove yourself. Fail the people then you will pay the price. Wallace, Bruce and followers did not die for nothing. Nitro is not big but used properly can destroy anything in its way."

Mr Clark said the letter referred to traitors and also had a black spot symbol on the page which he thought indicated punishment.

Campbell, of East Main Street, Uphall, had denied committing a breach of the peace by placing members of staff at the Scottish Parliament in a state of alarm by sending menacing letters.

Sheriff Raymond McMenamin found him guilty, but three further charges were dropped by the Crown.