A 33-YEAR-OLD Blackburn mum conducted an 18-month campaign of revenge against the woman she accused of "stealing" her children.

Bernadette Rimmer's vendetta included assault, burglary, threatening behaviour and harassment and culminated in a 15-month prison sentence.

But Blackburn magistrates heard that even prison bars could not stop her pursuit of Janet Lynch, who is in a relationship with Rimmer's former partner.

When she returned from a holiday Miss Lynch found two letters sent by Rimmer from Styal Prison. They blamed Miss Lynch for Rimmer's incarceration, warned her not to turn up at court and threatened what she would do when she was released.

Rimmer, 33, pleaded guilty to intimidating a witness. She was jailed for 60 days to run consecutive to the sentence she is already serving.

Michael Blacklidge, defending, said there was a significant history before the letters were sent from prison.

He said Rimmer had two children with the man who was now living with Miss Lynch. When their relationship broke down, the children had gone with him.

"There were disputes over contact with the children and forming a new relationship," said Mr Blacklidge. "There were problems with my client's mental well-being and a series of trials in this court eventually resulted in her being committed to the Crown Court for sentence.

"Having lost her relationship, her home, her children and eventually her liberty, she lashed out verbally and sent these two letters to Miss Lynch," said Mr Blacklidge.

He said the letters were sent after Rimmer had been convicted, so there was no chance they could have changed anything.

"My client had seen Miss Lynch at Preston Crown Court when she was sentenced and felt she was glorying in her predicament," he added.