Man threatened to skin probation officer alive (From Warrington Guardian)

Man threatened to skin probation officer alive

A MAN has been jailed for three years after telling a probation officer that the demons in his head were urging him to 'skin her alive slowly'.

Gareth Palin, aged 34, who has been detained in a mental hospital or custody since August 2004, wrote a series of letters to probation officer Jacqui O'Rourke after she visited him in prison.

The Crewe probation officer was told by Palin on her visit that he 'intended to inflict as much pain as possible' and 'skin someone alive' without regard to the identity of his victim.

The court was told by prosecutor Andrew Jebb that Mrs O'Rourke later received a series of six letters from Palin.

Mr Jebb said: "The first letter said 'what is murder when you are on the verge of suicide?'

"She also received letters saying 'you think your kind can stop me' and 'the demons are telling me I should kill you and skin you alive really slowly'.

"He also wrote 'I am wounded like an albatross, a tombstone around my neck, and I am the writing on the walls'."

After being arrested, the court heard that Palin admitted writing the letters and claimed he was totally sane at the time.

He also claimed he was told to write the letters by 'the demons in his head'.

The 34-year-old, who has previous convictions for armed robbery and possession of class A drugs, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to putting a person in fear of violence by harrassment.

Speaking in defence Daniel Travers said: "He has been in prison or the hospital system since 2004 and the probation officer had invited him to write to her.

"He was not well at the time and is deeply regretful now."

Recorder of Chester Elgan Edwards jailed Palin for three years after hearing that a mental health order was not an option as doctors did not believe he was treatable.

He said: "It is clear you suffer from a psychopathic desire but it is not treatable so I have no alternative but to impose custody on you.

"I hope you get every help you need while in custody."

A restraining order was also placed on Palin to prevent him from contacting Mrs O'Rourke.