A convict serving time for stabbing a neighbour dubbed himself "The Grim Reaper" and made death threats to his terrified victim in a letter penned from his prison cell.
Peter Bailey, 23, chillingly warned Ian Waters he would be buried in a "shallow grave" and mocked his victim for giving evidence against him from behind a screen.
He ended the missive, "Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, your time is running out", L
ewes Crown Court heard.
Bailey, still serving a sentence for wounding Mr Waters in Hastings on December 31, 2006, admitted witness intimidation and was jailed for three years today (Tuesday).
Prosecutor Dianne Gordon-Bassett said: "Mr Waters was stabbed in the neck by the defendant in what appeared to be an unprovoked assault."
She told the court Bailey had denied wounding with intent but admitted a lesser charge of wounding.
During a hearing to decide if the plea would be accepted, Mr Waters had given evidence from behind a screen so he did not have to face his attacker.
Bailey was sentenced to 30 months in prison on July 23, 2007, for the offence and was later ordered to serve another nine months in addition for burglary.
Miss Gordon-Bassett said: "On November 10 last year Mr Waters received a letter from the defendant which began, 'Yo Ian, guess who? Yes, The Grim Reaper'."
She added that the victim was shocked at the contents of the letter and feared he "may not live" after Bailey's release.
The court heard he had suffered post-traumatic stress and panic attacks since the stabbing and the subsequent threats were made.
Kim Goodall, defending, told the court Bailey was having a "bad time" in prison and dictated the letter to a cell-mate because his writing skills were poor.
Mr Goodall added: "He did not believe the letter would get past the censors bearing in mind who it was addressed to."
Jailing Bailey, Judge Charles Kemp told him: "This was a wicked offence.
"Whether or not you penned the letter or it was written at your dictation, you are still responsible for that letter sent to the unfortunate victim of your stabbing.
"The letter makes chilling reading. It refers to The Grim Reaper and to getting him as soon as you get out of prison.
"You have heard how it affected Mr Waters."
Bailey was told the sentence would run alongside his current jail term and continue after that is spent.
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