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Residents hope court ruling will heal the wounds

IT was long after the reporters and the tv crews in their vans had driven out of Manfield that the villagers' patience was really tested.

The residents of Manfield, near Darlington, were at the centre of a bewildering week in August, when the trial of poison pen writer James Forster thrust them into a media storm.

But, it was once the trial was over that their generosity of spirit was put to the test, as Forster returned to the village with his wife, Elizabeth, and carried on as normal.

While his traumatised victims struggled to contain their anger over his 12-year hate-mail campaign, Forster was spotted enjoying the sunshine, mowing the lawns at his two houses and walking around the village.

Ann Parrott, who lives near one of Forster's homes, in Cottagers Lane, said: "It was upsetting for the people involved to see him come back. Not long after he had come out of court he was over there mowing his lawns.

"But hopefully it (the sentence) will be enough of a shock for him not to do it any more, and it will get back to normal."

These were views shared by many.

One villager, who did not want to be named, said she had seen the Forsters in the local Safeway supermarket.

"They have just gone about normally. He has been holding his head up high as if nothing has happened," she said.

"I think he should have got 12 months at least."

The Reverend Alan Glasby, whose parish includes Manfield, was told about the hate-filled letters when he moved to the area 18 months ago.

As the local vicar, he has been there for villagers who have needed him - including the Forsters.

"I have had to try to hold on to a neutrality in a way," he said.

"I have just had to keep them all separate in my own mind and respond to each situation on an individual basis.

"I have not had any magic answers for them, but my role has been to listen - someone for people to share things with."

He hopes that people will be able to move on, but he understands that will be harder for the former lecturer's victims.

"Manfield is a warm, friendly supportive village. There is a tremendous network of mutual care and support.

"This thing is grotesque in a way against that background, because there's so much more to the village than just that horrendous incident."

But, while a court case usually offers a form of closure for those scarred by a criminal's acts, it may be difficult for villagers to move on if they believe he will return to live among them once he is released. Mr Glasby said: "The hope is, I guess, that people might see the fine and prison sentence as an appropriate full stop. But that remains to be seen."

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