A STALKER who became obsessed with a female taxi driver and threatened to slash her throat has been jailed.
Lee Anthony Tanti, 47, sent chilling letters to the 24-year-old woman threatening to kill her after taking just one ride in her taxi one night while she was working for 706 Cars in Marfleet Lane, east Hull.
One letter read: "We have never spoken but I have met you three times in the past five weeks. I have been a passenger in your taxi and sat right behind you in the back of your car.
"How easy it would have been for me to run my blade across your throat … your time on this planet will end before you know it. Remember you will never know who you are picking up late one night."
Now, the honorary Recorder of Hull and the East Riding Judge Michael Mettyear has sentenced him to four years in prison.
He told Tanti: "It is no surprise that it chilled the recipient to the bones and continues to have a lasting worrying effect, not only on the complainant but those associated with it.
"Some of the things you said were truly horrific and the sort of thing that would terrorise your intended victim and lead them to worry that matters threatened in the letter would actually be carried out.
"It is no surprise it continues to make them fearful and worry about themselves and their families. It is clear only custody can be justified for conduct such as this.
"This is a very bad case of its type."
The woman said the "sickening" letters have ruined her life and left her living in fear.
She did not know who the man was.
In her victim impact statement, she said: "The letters contained vile and sickening threats. It has had a massive impact on me.
"His name petrifies me and makes my stomach turn. Despite him being in prison now, I still cannot move on with my life. While he was on bail I felt like a prisoner in my own home.
"If I knew why or how he picked me I might find it easier but it feels like this man has gone out of his way to gather information about me, stalked me and intimidated me.
"I am an emotional wreck. I wake up screaming thinking that he has found me and is going to kill me."
He claimed to have hidden four wireless cameras in her home and filmed her through the curtains while cleaning her windows.
Tanti pleaded guilty at Hull Crown Court to making threats to kill the taxi driver.
Another letter read: "Taxi driver, you won't get warned again, three times in five weeks I could have slid the cold metal across your throat. Next time I will."
Tanti, of Clarence Court, Hull city centre, denied a further charge of threatening to kill his former partner and breaching a non-molestation order on July 25 last year.
Tanti had delivered the letter to a colleague's address on July 25 after mistaking the similar cars but the letter was addressed to her.
She was called from the manageress at the taxi officer informing her that her life was in danger.
He was arrested the next day but bailed and was not charged until last December.
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