A controversial property mogul has denied sending a threatening email to a family via his letting agent.

Fergus Wilson, 69, of Heath Road, Boughton Monchelsea, appeared before Maidstone Magistrates, accused of having the message sent to Robert Wilding and his wife on August 4.

Kumud Singh, prosecuting, said: "The nature of the threat is he sent an email which stated that the victim and his family will be shot by the Romanian mafia and Kent Police don't have the resources to protect them."

Wilson, representing himself, said his letting agent sent the message but denied it was malicious.

He said the email related to an ongoing Kent Police operation. He said: “It is not a threat. I was being helpful.

"It was not intended to cause distress, in fact it was intended to be helpful and if I might say we covered the matter with police the day before."

Wilson denied causing a communication to be sent conveying a threatening message for the purpose of causing distress or anxiety.

The case was adjourned until Friday, October 27 for a pre-trial hearing. Wilson was released on unconditional bail.