A RETIRED businessman told of his terror last night after a series of chilling gangland-style death threats culminated in a shotgun attack at his North-East home.

Detectives are investigating the threats that have led 60-year-old Leslie Jackson to fear for his life.

Last night, Mr Jackson revealed how:

* A masked gunman pushed a sawn-off shotgun into his face and threatened to blow his head off;

* Sinister messages were left on his phone telling him repeatedly that he was going to be murdered;

* He was forced to dive for cover after a shotgun was fired into the kitchen of his apartment at Stanhope Castle, County Durham.

Mr Jackson fears he has become a target for criminals and that next time, he could be killed.

Clearing up the debris from the shooting - which brought down a section of ceiling - Mr Jackson told The Northern Echo that he had no doubt his life was in danger.

As scenes-of-crime officers gathered evidence at the apartment where Mr Jackson has lived for two-and-a-half years, he described the events leading up to the shooting on Wednesday night.

Several incidents had left him increasingly concerned for his safety - so much so that he has installed a police panic button in his flat.

In one of the incidents, he had been watching television when there was a knock on the door at about 11.20pm.

"I thought it was one of my neighbours, but when I answered the door I was confronted by a massive man wearing a balaclava and holding a sawn-off shotgun.

"He pushed the gun up to my face and said, 'You know what you've got to do and if you haven't done it, the next time I come back, I'll just shoot you'."

Once the man had left, Mr Jackson pressed the panic button.

He said: "The police arrived very swiftly and, when I told them what had happened. They took me to the police station to keep me safe for the night.''

Two weeks later, Mr Jackson received a late-night telephone call. The caller told him over and over, "You are going to be murdered".

In the latest incident he was about to prepare a meal in the kitchen.

"It was dark outside and I had the lights on, which meant you could see clearly into my flat," he said.

"I had just moved away from the stove when there was an explosion, the window smashed and part of the ceiling was blasted down. I fell to the floor and stayed there for a little while before getting to my panic button.''

Police were quickly at the scene and Mr Jackson spent another night at the police station for his own protection.

Mr Jackson believes he knows who is behind the death threats. He said: "These people know I am not a villain and have no criminal record and am likely to just cave in under intimidation.''

Detective Sergeant Ian Sturrock confirmed there had been previous incidents involving Mr Jackson at the castle and said police were in the process of making inquiries into all the matters.

He said: "We want to speak to anyone who was in the vicinity of Stanhope Castle, Front Street and the Stanhope market place about 6.30pm on Wednesday."

* Witnesses are asked to call 0845 60 60 365.