A TENANT involved in a wrangle over rent arrears threatened to rape a council housing officer in poison pen letters sent to her office.

Peter Fraser later said he wanted to repay her for the "misery" he claimed she brought him, in her role with Chester-le-Street District Council's housing department.

Durham Crown Court heard that Fraser was jailed for two months for punching the woman in a meeting at Chester-le-Street Civic Centre over rent arrears on his former home, in Sixth Avenue, in October 2003.

Exactly two years after that incident a letter arrived at the civic centre addressed to the female official, this October.

The writer claimed he was going to rape her, and added: "We know every move you are making and where you live."

Geoff Taylor, prosecuting, said: "It had quite a devastating effect on her as a result of which she had to stop work and hasn't gone back since."

He said a further letter stated: "We are still watching you and waiting to rape you soon."

Fraser was traced through a finger print and was arrested the day after the second letter arrived.

He admitted sending the letters, which were intended to make the woman anxious, "and make her life a misery".

Mr Taylor said police found a third letter ready to be posted.

Euan Duff, mitigating, said the assault took place when Fraser's mother died and he was facing eviction.

"He felt he was getting no sympathy at all, in fact quite the contrary, and lost his temper, striking the lady.

"There were continuing difficulties and he still feels it was this individual causing his life to be in the state it was, a complete misery.

"He's frank enough to tell everyone he wanted her life to be as miserable as he was."

But Mr Duff said Fraser has been in custody for 55 days since his arrest, and added: "He assures me today he has learned his lesson.

"It's in the past and there will be no repetition of this, whatsoever."

Fraser, 34, of a homeless persons' unit in Plawsworth, near Chester-le-Street, admitted harassment.

Jailing him for a year, Recorder Howard Crowson ordered an extended licence period of a further four years.

He issued a five year restraining order preventing Fraser directly, or indirectly, contacting the woman.