A self-styled 'Muslim Slayer' who sent anti-Islamic hate mail to hundreds of people, including several in Bradford, has been jailed for 12 and a half years.

David Parnham, 36, will serve his sentence in hospital until he is well enough to be transferred to prison.

Parnham, from Lincoln, has pleaded guilty to 15 offences relating to hundreds of letters penned between June 2016 and June 2018.

BACKGROUND

He has admitted encouraging murder, making hoaxes involving noxious substances and bombs, sending letters with intent to cause distress, and encouraging offences.

As he appeared in court for a sentencing hearing, a psychiatrist revealed that the defendant did not regret what he had done and did not consider it "particularly serious".

Dr Martin Lock said: "He told me if he went to prison it would be one to two years."

The court heard that Parnham claimed he did not remember writing to the Queen.

While Parnham was on the autistic spectrum, Dr Lock said he was not psychotic and expressed concern that the defendant had attempted to "mislead" medical professionals.

Another psychiatrist said Parnham was suffering a psychotic illness and had felt "paranoia and suspiciousness", particularly towards religious groups and prominent individuals.

When Dr Paul Wallang first saw him in December, Parnham was "extremely anxious", "fearful" and low.

Dr Wallang said: "There were very odd ideas and he talked about unusual experiences, some of which were swirling kaleidoscope colours, bed sheets being pulled from him. There were other experiences of chattering voices."

He conceded it was "possible" that Parnham could attempt to pull the wool over the eyes of professionals.

The psychiatrist recommended a hospital order with restrictions, saying it was important to have the power to recall Parnham for "protection of the public".

The court heard that Parnham's activities first came to the attention of authorities in July 2016 when seven of letters were intercepted at Sheffield mail centre and found to contain harmless white powder.

A further 11 letters were identified as having been delivered.

A letter to former PM David Cameron contained the wording "Allah is great", while letters to MPs and mosques contained the wording "P**i Filth".

In October 2016, more letters containing white powder stated that "the clowns R coming 4 you" and were intended to reach the Queen and Mrs May.

In December 2016, Parnham sent a fan letter to Dylann Roof, a white supremacist responsible for shooting nine black parishioners dead in Charleston, South Carolina.

He told Roof: "I just wanted to thank you for opening my eyes. Ever since you carried out what I'd call the 'cleansing' I've felt differently about what you'd call 'racial awareness'."

In February 2007, letters were sent to various mosques and Islamic centres around the county.

A letter to Berkeley Street Mosque in Hull contained a drawing of a sword with a swastika on it cutting someone's head off, with the words "You are going to be slaughtered very soon".

The author signed off as "Muslim Slayer".

In March 2017, letters were sent to addresses around the University of Sheffield campus calling for the extermination of minority racial and religious groups.

They contained suggestions on how to kill people and an offer to make a donation of £100 to charity for each death.

In 2018, the series of typed "Punish A Muslim Day" letters were sent out to a large number of people, encouraging violence on the April 3 2018 - Roof's birthday.

Parnham, of St Andrew's Close in Lincoln, was caught through DNA, handwriting and fingerprints on the letters.

When he was arrested in June 2018, he refused to answer any questions.