Two men obsessed with vampires waged a three-month religious harassment campaign against a Southampton vicar and his family.
Scott Bower and Benjamin Lewis, who were later joined by Lewis's 19-year-old girlfriend Natalie Gibson, reportedly targeted the Rev Christopher Rowberry, his wife Karen and children 15-year-old Hannah and 17-year-old Simon, ITV reported.
A Southampton court was told that they made howling noises from a graveyard close to the family's vicarage near Totton, Hampshire, scores of disturbing and abusive telephone calls, set off fireworks at the vicarage and left obscene pictures, including one of a disembowelled Christ on a church notice board.
When police raided Lewis's home, they discovered pictures of him and Bower apparently cutting themselves and drinking each other's blood.
In a police interview, Lewis (25) said: "I am a vampire and proud." Asked why he cut himself on the arm, he replied: "Because we drink each other's blood."