Man charged with threatening Wanganui mayoral candidate

A man charged with threatening Wanganui mayoral candidate Michael Laws has appeared in court.

Paul William Evans, 61 of Wanganui, entered no plea to one charge of blackmail before a community magistrate in the Whanganui District Court this morning.

He is alleged to have sent a threatening letter to Michael Laws to withdraw from the October local body elections.

Evans' assigned counsel, Stephen Ross, requested his client be remanded on bail until his next appearance.

The magistrate, Lesley Jensen, remanded Evans to appear before a judge and enter a plea on October 1.