A Preston animal lover who sent threatening letters to people and companies with links to an animal research organisation has been given a suspended jail term.

Diane Jamieson, 60, of Lytham Road, Ashton-on-Ribble, was prosecuted as a result of a nationwide police investigation known as Operation Achilles.

She had sent letters that contained threats and intimidation, including the phrase "hell and damnation is waiting for you" and a reference to an instance where a mother's body was dug up from a Staffordshire grave.

Jamieson had pleaded guilty to six offences under the Serious and Organised Crime Act in a case concerning 44 letters she had sent in the mail.

Preston Crown Court heard that she was tracked down having sent other legitimate letters of protest, containing her name and address, regarding Huntingdon Life Sciences in Cambridgeshire.

Mr Roger Climie, prosecuting, said the case was one part of a very substantial investigation headed by Kent Police and concerning the activities of an organisation called Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty.

HLS had become less of a target for SHAC, who turned their attention to a greater extent to those supplying the laboratory.

The letters sent by the defendant were all addressed to suppliers.

One contained a reference to an incident where a mother's body had been dug up from a grave in Staffordshire.

The letters sent included phrases like "you are truly evil" and "victory will be so sweet for us".

Mr Climie told the court: "During the investigation it became apparent that a number of letters had been written with legitimate protests or attempts to persuade companies either to stop supplying, or just generally in terms of animal issues. These were signed by her and gave her address, thus giving an opportunity for a reply.

"The threatening letters had been anonymous. Officers were able to compare and contrast handwriting".

In police interview, Jamieson, a woman of previous good character, said she did not agree with direct physical action of any form and told officers her intention had been to persuade, rather than to threaten.

The court heard that she had devoted her life to concern for animals and also people. During her lifetime, she had adopted fifty legitimate animal charities.

The judge, Mr Justice Irwin, sentenced her to fifty one weeks prison, suspended for two years, with two years supervision by the probation service.

He said she had come within a whisker of being sent to jail.