A 13-YEAR-OLD girl was sent an obscene pornographic magazine by a former Open University lecturer after her mother replaced him as parish council clerk, a court heard yesterday.

James Forster is accused of sending the magazine along with the message "A Gift from Manfield" to Catherine Wane in October 1999.

In May that year, her mother, Rona, had received a threatening letter after the family moved from the village of Manfield, near Darlington, to nearby Richmond, while she was still acting as parish clerk, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Michael O'Neill, prosecuting, said the post was previously held by Mr Forster. The letter, allegedly written by Mr Forster, said: "We want a parish clerk who lives in Manfield. If you do not resign forthwith we will give your car the once over."

It had the post script: "We will be watching for you."

Mrs Wane said she ignored the letter but became very angry when a parcel arrived for her daughter. In a statement she said: "She didn't examine the contents but handed it to me. I saw it was a pornographic magazine and a note. I was really angry.

"I felt that this was connected to the earlier written threat to damage my car."

The 67-year-old retired academic is accused of waging a 12-year hate mail campaign and damaging property in the North Yorkshire village between 1987 and 1999.

The court heard how in November 1999 police raided Mr Forster's two Manfield homes and found evidence linking him with the terror campaign.

PC Graham Stockton said he found a sheet of paper similar to that used in the note to the 13-year-old.

Forensic scientists examined both pieces and concluded they had originally been an A3 sheet torn in two.

He added that a scientific stencil kit and rubber gloves, which were also found, could have been used to write the obscene and insulting letters, leaflets and posters.

Mr O'Neill said the letters included allegations that one man's wife was having sex with two different men a week for £500 and that other villagers were borrowing vast sums of money.

The court also heard Mr Forster had tried to buy the home of elderly neighbour Molly Christian, who the prosecution say, was targeted by Mr Forster in his campaign.

However, after three months, the sale fell through. The house was later bought by Roy Kellett and his family, who also became victims, the jury was told.

Mr Forster, 68 today, of Kirklea, Grunton Lane, Manfield, denies 11 charges, including three of threatening to destroy or damage property, three of damaging property, three of sending indecent or obscene mail, one of incitement to commit burglary, and one of putting a person in fear of violence.

The trial continues.

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