A MAN accused of sending a threatening letter to a chief constable and then trying to “shift the finger of blame”, is to stand trial next year.

David Alexander Stephen Lindsay previously denied malicious communication by sending a threatening letter about Labour councillors and candidates for Durham County Council to the county’s Chief Constable, Mike Barton.

He was to stand trial on that charge last December, but, on the lead up to that date, letters from a US national purporting a threat to the life of Mr Lindsay, if he was to be acquitted, were sent to both him and to two Roman Catholic priests.

The prosecution alleges that Mr Lindsay arranged for those letters to be sent, and he was subsequently charged with doing an act intending or tending to pervert the course of justice.

He has now, also, denied that charge and will stand trial on both allegations at the court on April 1, next year.

The 41-year-old defendant, of Foxhills Crescent, Lanchester, was bailed to return for the estimated week-long trial.