Published: Thursday, 29th May, 2008 4:30pm

Woman's sick cards to girl, 9

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CARDS: Annabel Brightmore.
Pic by: George Munro

A WOMAN sent chilling messages in anonymous cards to a nine-year-old girl during a twisted ‘revenge attack’.

The sheriff court heard Annabel Brightmore, 51, pictured, posted five cards to the youngster at her Greenock home.

The most chilling said: “You’re my sleeping beauty and I am your beast.”

In a Valentine card, Brightmore called the little girl her ‘Goldilocks’ and described herself as ‘daddy bear’. Another played ‘How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You’ when opened.

The court yesterday heard claims Brightmore had acted out of desperation after her family was allegedly subjected to ‘years of torment’ by a family connected to the girl.

Depute fiscal Nadine Dormer explained how the first card dropped through the young victim’s door on 11 December last year.

She said: “The girl’s mother found the mail and thought it strange, being addressed to her daughter with the address typed.

“Within was a typed note that said ‘can’t wait to meet you next year’. Another card arrived on 14 December, this time a Christmas card with another typed note that read ‘Santa is going to bring you lots of new games in 2008’.”

Another piece of mail arrived one week later, containing a typed message saying ‘can’t wait for 2008’.

Miss Dormer added: “The fourth piece of correspondence was a Valentine’s card which said ‘To Goldilocks, from your daddy bear. You’re my sleeping beauty and I am your beast and I’ve not forgotten you babe, I’m just so busy’.

“This caused extreme alarm and the father again contacted police, but the next day a fifth card addressed to the child arrived in the post. This time it was a musical card with no words inside which played ‘How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You’.”

Police arrived at the family home and took away all correspondence and began an investigation to trace Brightmore.

After using the postmark to trace the mail back to Port Glasgow post office, a teller there remembered the 51-year-old visiting on several occasions and provided police with a description. Using CCTV footage, they traced Brightmore and made the arrest.

During her appearance in the dock, Brightmore, of Fir Street in Gibshill, admitted a breach of the peace by posting a number of items containing inappropriate comments to the nine-year-old and placing her parents in a state of fear and alarm.

Defence solicitor Alistair Hendry said his client had sent the cards after being subjected to a hate campaign at the hands of a family connected to the girl, and their friends.

He added: “She suffered years of torment and misery and these were the actions of someone at the end of their tether.

“She had made a series of complaints to police which weren’t acted on. For example, she took pictures of children vandalising her fence and found herself charged with a breach of the peace for this.

“I would ask the court to accept that what was in these notes was sinister rather than threatening but accepts that what she did was wrong and there is no excuse for it.”

Sentencing Brightmore, Sheriff Rajni Swanney said she had some sympathy with her situation.

She said: “Due to the nature of the offence, I will defer sentence for a year and if you are of good behaviour you will get an absolute discharge.

“If the police have failed to properly investigate your complaints then this is lamentable and inappropriate and I feel aggrieved you are actually before me today.”

Last night, Brightmore refused to comment when approached by the Tele. She said: “It was all said in court.”