Broadcaster and former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Rev Richard Coles has said the police are involved after he received hate mail following the death of his partner.
Coles announced on Tuesday that his civil partner, Rev David Coles, who was also a priest, died after a long illness. The cleric said that since then he has received messages from a minority of people, including one that said his partner is "in hell" and that he "will follow".
On Friday, he updated his Twitter followers, writing: "Police called this evening, sympathetic and professional, and my hateful correspondence is now evidence."
Police called this evening, sympathetic and professional, and my hateful correspondence is now evidence. Thank you @NorthantsPolice
— Richard Coles (@RevRichardColes) December 20, 2019
He added: "Also Northamptonshire Police lit a candle in memory of Rev David Coles at their carol service tonight. There appears to be evidence of something in my eye."
Earlier in the week, Coles, who was previously a member of 1980s' pop group The Communards, wrote that there had been "99.99999% loveliness from people and then a small but lively correspondence from Christians who wish me to know that D is in hell and I will follow."
He said: "A letter, courageously unsigned, begins: 'Dear Mr Coles, I can't begin to tell you how happy I am to hear of the death of your partner...'."
"It continues 'I have been praying for your pain for a long time now...'."
Coles said that the "horrible letters: they don't touch me".
The horrible letters: they don't touch me. I am right now an expert in pain, the real kind, and these are paper darts among the incoming, and just leave me mildly curious about the state of mind of the writer. pic.twitter.com/2VhMrleT3o
— Richard Coles (@RevRichardColes) December 19, 2019
"I am right now an expert in pain, the real kind, and these are paper darts among the incoming, and just leave me mildly curious about the state of mind of the writer", he tweeted.
