A PENSIONER has been found guilty of breaching a restraining order by sending anti-Semitic letters to the BBC.

James Evans, aged 69, of Bath Road, Worcester, sent letters referring to Jewish people as "Yids" and "Zionists" and claimed "Jewish people rule the world".

He breached a restraining order by 17 letters to BBC Hereford and Worcester employees in two weeks, with the charges specifically relating to Monday May 9, Saturday May 14 and Friday May 20.

He said that Britain was a police state and regularly referenced George Soros.

Blaise Shervington, defending, said: "There were no threats of violence in the letters and they caused minimal harm to Mr Pollock (to whom the letters were addressed).

"There was no intent to cause harm. Whilst we might not agree with his views, he wants a forum to discuss his views.

"We are judging him on breach of a restraining order not on his opinions."

Evans was issued a restraining order on Friday November 6 2015, which ran until November 5 2018 which has now been replaced by his new order.

He was known to have sent 70 letters to the BBC before that.

He is banned from entering BBC Hereford and Worcester, as well as making contact with members of staff.

His new four year restraining order runs until July 29, 2020 and he was ordered to pay a fine of £150 and given a 12 month community order, including 15 rehabilitation days.

He was also ordered to pay court costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £75.

On receiving his sentence, Evans said: "Freedom of expression is a bit expensive in Britain."