A POISON pen letter writer terrorised a smart cul-de-sac, forcing three families to move out, a court heard yesterday.

For two years, senior university administrator Andrew Bewley, 38, brought misery to Wharfedale Close in Ingleby Barwick in the hope blame would fall on a teenage neighbour.

Teesside Magistrates heard how the truth only emerged when Bewley was caught on film vandalising property.

Bewley lived in a £100,000 four-bedroomed detached home with his wife and young child next door to widower Annette Dales and her teenage son.

Guy Prest, prosecuting, told how the offences began in 1998 after Bewley blamed the teenager for damage to his car.

Bewley sent menacing letters to every resident of the close hoping that blame would fall on his teenage neighbour, and force the Dales to leave.

He also sent threatening letters to Mrs Dales, and damaged her property.

The court was told how the letters went into great detail about the residents' lives. They were offensive and made threats of violence and damage to property. One victim was 64-year-old widow Sylvia Lacy.

"Since receiving the letters she has problems sleeping. She was frightened in her own home and when she went out she was worried what she would find on her return" said Mr Prest.

"All residents of the close began to receive threatening letters on a weekly basis causing great distress. When this was ongoing, three families moved out.

"The letters were made to appear as if the Dales family were responsible, when in fact they were not."

Police decided the writer must live in the close and took fingerprint and DNA samples from residents, which proved negative.

However, Mrs Dales, had covert CCTV cameras fitted to her home before going on holiday in August.

"On returning they found damage had been caused to gas and electricity boxes and the garden gate. A video handed in to the police showed it was Mr Bewley who was responsible" said Mr Prest.

Bewley later told police that the Dales family had been making his life a misery and he wanted everyone to know how he felt.

The offending began when Mr Bewley's car was damaged while parked outside his home. It was believed the culprits had mistaken it for one belonging to the Dales.

Bewley, 38, a senior administrator with Teesside University, admitted criminal damage, harassment and making a threat to destroy property. He asked for five similar offences to be considered.

His solicitor, Paul Dixon, told the court: "He feels deep shame and embarrassment at what he has done.-"

Mr Dixon claimed Bewley, his wife and child had been subjected to five years of abuse from the Dales family and had snapped.

"It was like the drip, drip, drip of Chinese water torture," said Mr Dixon. "He sought help from the police, but to no avail."

Chairman of the bench Joyce Harrison adjourned the case for four weeks for reports.

She told Bewley: "You must he aware that custody remains an option.