A pensioner wrote to police threatening to kill a man he believed was a sex offender, a court heard.

Albert Arnold described how he would shoot the man with his own gun and bury him alive.

The 68-year-old was said to be a "frequent correspondent" to Kent Police, offering them "intelligence" on crime in the Medway towns.

However, on September 9 last year he wrote a letter claiming he was ready to shoot the man he believed had "an interest" in young men, if the police did not act.

It was opened by a civilian worker at Medway police station, Maidstone Crown Court was told.

Naming the man, he wrote: “He will be shot with my own weapon which is silent but most deadly.

“I will bury him while he is still fighting for his breath, so do something before I will.”

Arnold added: “This isn’t an idle threat. I’m going to put big mouth in the ground.”

Prosecutor Sherry Nabijou said at a previous hearing that Arnold would write about one letter a fortnight to police.

"He will be shot with my own weapon which is silent but most deadly" - Albert Arnold

“He is a frequent correspondent with the police with intelligence, as he sees it, regarding crimes in the Medway area and sometimes further afield,” she added.

Sentencing was adjourned until Wednesday last week with Judge Adele Williams warning him at a previous hearing: “These letters have got to stop.”

Arnold admitted sending a malicious communication, conveying a threat, to Kent Police.

He was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

He will be subject to a tagged curfew for four months between 10pm and 9am.

A two-year restraining order was made in respect of the man his vendetta was against.

Arnold was said to be receiving disability living allowance.

He was a carer for his former brother-in-law who has dementia and with whom he lived in a caravan in Pagitt Street, Chatham.

Another address of Wyles Road, Chatham, was also given to the court.