Police are hunting a stalker who has been sending “graphic and threatening” greeting cards to a woman in Bristol for the last six years.
The notes - some of which have included threats of rape - are often signed by someone calling themselves “Gordon”, with the culprit believed to be sending the cards from the Bristol area.
“The content is becoming increasingly sexually explicit and aggressive in nature and includes threats to commit rape and stalking offences,” said DC Patrick Prescott of the Avon and Somerset Constabulary, who are investigating the case.
According to police, the victim - who is in her 40s - has received seven or eight cards a year since 2012, many of which have been delivered on birthdays and Valentine’s Day.
She first contacted officers in January 2016, when the cards started to become more menacing. Officers have now released images of the cards in a bid to find their sender.
The cards are:
- Usually signed ‘Gordon’ and always with five crosses (one large X and four small Xs around it)
- Always written in capitals
- Often have an animal pictured on the front, regularly cats
- Sent from the Bristol postmark area
Calling on card shop workers, postal service employees and members of the public for their help, Prescott said: “Do you recognise this handwriting, the name Gordon or the signature with the five crosses? Do you know who may be sending these cards?
“It could be a colleague, friend or even a family member. We’d ask you to please report any concerns or suspicions to help us make this stop,” he said.
“Harassment offences can cause significant distress to victims and disrupt their daily lives but we’ll do all we can to make sure we investigate crimes, gather evidence and whenever possible, bring offenders to justice.”
Speaking as the information was released, the victim said she hoped the release would prompt someone to come forward - “someone out there must know who it is”, she said.
Police are also calling on anyone who may have received similar cards to come forward.
“Thorough analysis of the communications has been carried out and the possibility the offender has sent, or is sending cards or letters with similar content to other people cannot be excluded,” Prescott added.
“If you have been receiving similar correspondence then we want to hear from you.”