A woman sent a letter threatening to cut up a doctor because she blamed him for her father’s death.
Dr Graeme Eales was so frightened by series of notes sent by Theresa Docherty that he refused to leave his home and tried to remove his details from the electoral register.
Docherty told police that she just wanted answers over her father’s death.
The 40-year-old, of Balmoral Avenue in Crosland Moor, pleaded guilty to a charge of harassment.
Kirklees magistrates were told that Dr Eales has now retired but worked at Newsome Surgery and during 2012 treated Docherty’s father.
Following his death, the doctor first received a letter from Docherty in July 2012.
The letter was also addressed to another doctor working at the surgery and signed by Docherty.
Linda Fowler, prosecuting, said: “It was blaming both doctors for the death of her father.
“It included the comment: ‘I’ll make you suffer like my precious dad did’.”
In another letter sent in early 2013 Docherty warned Dr Eales : ‘You don’t want to be a doctor - watch your back’.
At this point police spoke with her and she was advised to take any issues up via the surgery’s official complaints procedure.
Following Mr Eales’ retirement the surgery received a further letter addressed to him on June 17 this year.
In this Docherty made reference to ending his life and another sinister threat followed on July 3.
Mrs Fowler said: “This letter said: ‘I’m convinced you’re responsible for his death.
‘If I don’t hear from you I will cut you - it’s a promise’.”
The prosecutor added that Dr Eales took the threats seriously and after one stayed in his home all day until his wife returned.
Mrs Fowler said: “He perceived this as a threat to his life (and) made efforts to remove his name from the electoral register and said he was going to remove his house’s name plaque.
“He said it left him feeling quite vulnerable and unsafe in his own home.
In interview Docherty said that her father was her world and she just wanted to see what the doctor had to say for himself face to face.
Magistrates heard that Docherty’s father had suffered from gangrene and had to have his leg amputated.
Mr Eales had seen him a few days before he passed away and she believed that he was responsible for his death.
Ian Whiteley, mitigating, said: “Ms Docherty saw the pain and suffering he was going through and tried to alert the doctors.
“She put the blame on the doctors of that particular surgery.
“But she should have gone through the correct channels and dealt with it in another way.”
Magistrates ordered a full report before Docherty’s sentencing on August 22.
In the meantime she is banned from contacting Dr Eales or going to the surgery on Church Lane.
Click here to take you back to more Huddersfield news.
Want to read, watch and hear more? You can download the FREE Examiner Apple App here, the FREE Examiner Android App here or you can view the paper as an e-edition on your Apple, Android or Kindle device by clicking here
To follow us on Twitter click here
