Chilling warning...Paul Darlington (Image: Cavendish Press, SWNS)

       Paul Darlington, 36, issued the chilling warning to Thomas Canning as he was led off the site for illegally fishing rainbow trout.

       Chester Magistrates’ Court heard he told the married father of two: “We know you have got donkeys. We will come back

       in the night and kill them.

       “Have you ever woken up with a donkey’s head in your bed?”

       The court heard Darlington also told Mr Canning: “Is this your son? He is dead if he leaves here. We have got his picture.

       “If he steps off the farm, we will kill him. We will come back and break in and we will kill the kids and let you watch.”

       READ MORE: Man 'robbed victims of their childhood' after decade-long 'reign of terror'

       'Have you ever woke up with a donkey's head in your bed?' - Darlington's terrifying threat (Image: Getty)

       In the 1972 film The Godfather, crime boss Don Corleone, played by Marlon Brando, sends henchmen to persuade a film producer to offer his godson a role.

       When the studio boss refuses, he finds the severed head of his prized racing horse in his bed the following morning.

       Mr Canning and wife Katherine, who live in the remote Cheshire village of Mickle Trafford, were upset by the incident.

       Darlington, who has convictions for -violence, admitted three charges of -threatening behaviour.

       He was told to pay ￡200 compensation to the couple and ￡100 to their son Sean.

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       Darlington's sinister threats were referencing the infamous 'horse head' scene in 'The Godfather' (Image: Getty)

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       Darlington was also ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work, 20 days of -rehabilitative activity, given a five-year restraining order and must pay ￡514 in costs and fines. District Judge Jack McGarva told him: “The threats were vile and showed great arrogance. This was not somewhere you can do what you want.

       “The threats were particularly u-npleasant, would have been frightening and have lasting effects.”

       The bust-up occurred on July 5, 2022 after Darlington and a friend were seen lurking around one of three lakes at Meadow View Farm and Fisheries.

       Darlington, of nearby Ellesmere Port, who represented himself, said: “I obviously acted wrong. I admitted I did wrong. I was not guilty at first. I was threatened first, that’s what my thing was.”

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