A CARLISLE pensioner has appeared in a court charged with stalking a woman and issuing her with a death threat.

David Hood, 67, of Collingwood Street, Denton Holme, is also accused of sending an offensive letter to the same alleged victim, causing her "distress and anxiety."

The three charges were outlined for the defendant at Carlisle’s Rickergate court, though Hood did not enter any pleas.

According to prosecutors, the alleged stalking offence was committed between Friday, August 4 and Monday August 7 in Carlisle.

The defendant is accused of “repeatedly” visiting the alleged victim’s home address and posting letters through her door, though court papers reveal no further details.

This amounted to stalking and caused the alleged victim serious alarm and distress, says the charge. It also had a “substantial adverse effect” on her day-to-day life and he ought to have known this.

The communications charge relating to the 'letter" was allegedly committed between August 7 and 8, and conveyed a message which was “grossly offensive for the purpose of causing distress or anxiety, says the charge.

The threats to kill charge relates to a text message, which the prosecution say was intended to make the alleged victim believe the threat would be carried out.

After legal discussions, District Judge John Temperley sent the case to Carlisle Crown Court for a hearing on January 3, when the defendant is likely to be asked to enter pleas.

In the meantime, Hood, who was represented by defence lawyer Mark Shepherd, will remain remanded in custody.