A JUDGE has banned a paedophile from ever contacting Samaritans again after hearing how he sent obscene and bloodstained letters and razor blades to the charity.

Recorder Andrew Campbell QC also warned that Karl William Martin Fox could soon commit a “serious sexual offence”.

Conor Quinn, prosecuting, told York Crown Court that Fox wrote an eight-page account of sadistic sexual abuse and torture of a young boy to the Samaritans and claimed to have abused other children for which he had not received justice.

However, there was no evidence he had actually committed any of the abuse. He also sent razor blades with a bloodstained letter.

The judge told Fox: “You are potentially someone who is on the brink, it seems to this court, of committing a serious sexual offence.”

He suspended a nine-month prison sentence for two years so Fox could get two years’ supervision aimed at dealing with his “disturbed” behaviour and made an indefinite restraining order barring him from any contact with the Samaritans.

Mr Quinn said Fox had sent the Samaritans letters for two years until, concerned by the nature of his writings, the charity asked him to stop in March last year. In October and November he sent the obscene letter and the razor blades.

Fox, 39, of Burton Stone Lane, Clifton, pleaded guilty to two charges of sending obscene letters by mail. He is subject to a sexual offences prevention order barring him from having contact with children after he served a six-year prison sentence for abusing a boy in the 1990s.

Joe Ferns, director of research, development and operations at Samaritans, said it was a confidential service and without that confidentiality, those in greatest need might never have the courage to speak to them and find release from their problems.

He said: “We’re here for anyone who needs to talk about their feelings, worries or concerns.

“However, we won’t accept abuse of the service as it could prevent us from helping someone in need. In extreme cases, if volunteers are threatened, we may contact the police.”

For Fox, Tom Gent said he apologised for the offence he had caused Samaritans, adding the offences had the “hallmark” of someone with a disturbed mind seeking help.