A York man sent two hard core pornographic DVDs to a 12-year-old boy he deemed the “most evil” in the area for 20 years, the city’s magistrates court heard.

Joe Culley, prosecuting, said Mark Napier, 48, first sent a handwritten letter to the boy’s parents complaining about him and urging them to “discipline him before it is too late”.

Shortly afterwards, he sent two separate parcels each containing hard core adult pornography to the boy.

But the child’s mother recognised the handwriting on each parcel and intercepted them before he saw them.

District judge Adrian Lower told him: “I am struggling to see how you thought it would help the situation by sending the DVDs.”

Keith Whitehouse, defending, said he was a man “at the end of his tether” and that he had mental health issues.

The district judge adjourned sentence until September 14 while probation officers prepare a report on Napier and warned him he could be jailed or sent to the crown court for sentence when he returns to court.

Napier, of Ryecroft Avenue, Woodthorpe, pleaded guilty to two charges of sending malicious parcels through the post.

Mr Culley said the boy’s parents received the letter in September 2016. It detailed reasons why Napier thought the boy the “most evil” child in the area for 20 years.

In early October, they received a postman’s message that there was a package for them for which the postage had not been paid. After the father paid for it online, the first DVD was delivered on October 10. The second arrived in a similar way by October 19.

Mr Whitehouse said Napier had heard stories about the boy.

“He was beside himself,” said Mr Whitehouse. “It was in that context he sent the material and he bitterly regrets it.”

Napier had no previous convictions.