A veteran NHS worker has been jailed for five months after sending a “vile” letter containing threats and abuse to former Home Secretary Priti Patel.
Pooneeraj Canakiah, 65, marked the letter as “personal” in the hope that Ms Patel would open it herself, sending it in January last year when she was still in charge at the Home Office in Boris Johnson’s government.
He wrote: “Your time is coming to an end – be prepared we will get you.”
Threatening to “tear you to pieces”, Canakiah told Ms Patel: “If we don’t get you, we will wait and wait and wait.
“Be prepared, b****.”
Prosecutor David Burns said the letter, which was intercepted before reaching the Home Secretary, went on to make a series of lewd suggestions about sex between Ms Patel and Mr Johnson.
Sentencing him to five months in prison, District Judge Briony Clarke said the letter shocked her every time she read it.
“It’s an attack on democracy”, she said.
“You sent a letter which was disgusting and threatening in nature, it was addressed to a serving MP who at the time was Home Secretary.
“It was vile in nature, including threats, it was offensive and vulgar.”
The judge added: “Members of Parliament, whoever they are, should have the right to go about their work in a safe environment.”
Westminster magistrates court heard Canakiah was identified by his handwriting, and he pleaded guilty to sending a letter conveying an indecent or offensive message at his first court hearing in March.
“Prior to the offence, he worked for the NHS for 42 years”, said defence lawyer Myrna Ricketts.
“He worked all through Covid and became very unwell during 2020. He has suffered two heart attacks and his mother died in July 2022.”
Canakiah blamed the offence on declining mental health, saying he suffers from depression.
But the judge said she had not been shown any evidence to support his claim to have mental health struggles.
Canakiah, who lives key worker accommodation in Hackney, east London, must serve half his five-month prison sentence before being released on licence.
