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A far-right extremist threatened to kill two BBC presenters and complained about the broadcaster's description of Lewis Hamilton as English.

Ian Hargreaves threatened to shoot presenter Clive Myrie and Formula 1 commentator Jack Nicholls while making 'disturbing references' to the cold case murder of BBC journalist Jill Dando.

The 66-year-old was jailed for 18 months today (Tuesday) after sending 27 malicious communications via the BBC's complaints website between 2015 and 2017.

More than 1,000 child sexual abuse images were found on electronic devices in his Leeds home and he was also found in possession of a knife when he was traced and arrested in 2017.

Leeds Crown Court heard Hargreaves was also jailed in 2007 after firearms were found in his home when he was arrested for posting a menu with 'racist words' written on it through the letterbox of an Indian restaurant.

(Image: PA)

Prosecutor Richard Dunn said the messages were sent anonymously via forms on the BBC's complaint's website and both West Yorkshire Police and police in Northern Ireland put in 'a lot of work' to trace the defendant.

Hargreaves' full messages were not read out in open court, but were described as 'grossly offensive' and all displaying a preoccupation with motorsport, particularly Formula 1, and racist language.

One of his complaints was that the broadcaster should not describe five-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton as an Englishman.

In another one of his complaints, he claimed the BBC is a left-wing or communist organisation.

Mr Dunn said both of the BBC presenters were given security advice as a result of the threats, with Mr Myrie describing them as 'deeply troubling' and Mr Nicholls saying they made him feel fearful travelling to and from work.

Hargreaves, of Chestnut Avenue, Crossgates, Leeds, also sent a similar threat to the Evening Standard but did not target specific staff.

He was arrested outside his home on November 23, 2017.

When police asked him if he was in possession of anything illegal, he told them he had a knife in his pocket, adding: "Some b*****ds have threatened me."

Officers found a large lock knife in his pocket.

Child sexual abuse images were found on several electronic devices recovered during a search of the property.

Four images were in category B while 1,337 images were in category C.

In his police interview, the defendant denied any knowledge of the images but accepted they were his devices.

On the first day of a trial, Hargreaves pleaded guilty to two counts of sending malicious communications, one count of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and one count of possession of indecent images.

Ben Thomas, mitigating, said his client did not intend to carry out the threats and did not send them directly to the victims.

Mr Thomas said Hargreaves has previously received treatment in a mental health unit, is struggling to sleep in custody and is worried about the effect of his offences on the woman who he was living with.

Hargreaves was also ordered to sign the sex offender register for seven years.

Mr Myrie is a news journalist and presenter who works for BBC News as London World Affairs Correspondent and as presenter of BBC Weekend News.

Mr Nicholls is a Formula 1 commentator for BBC Radio 5 Live.

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