A pensioner was left in fear of his life after being sent a charity leaflet in which he was threatened with torture, flogging, amputation and public beheading.

Dr Hale Enderby, 86, of Crawley, was sent the leaflet by the human rights group Amnesty International.

After reading that he was under investigation for unspecified crimes, the doctor was told he would undergo a secret trial involving torture and then be punished.

Unfortunately, he did not read on to the second page, where Amnesty explained it was trying to give an idea of abuses of justice in Saudi Arabia.

Not until his care worker arrived a few hours later was a distraught Dr Enderby, who used to work at Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, put at ease.

Ayshea Trott, director of Age Concern, Crawley, said: "He was very, very upset and frightened. It's a very aggressive sales strategy and it's scaring people.

"He is in his 80s and doesn't need this sort of shock. It makes you wonder how other people are going to be affected by this. A lot of people are elderly, or vulnerable to this sort of publicity.

"Amnesty could be damaging, rather than enhancing, its profile by mounting this campaign."

Amnesty has sent out 99,000 of the leaflets, purporting to be from the Senior Minister of Judicial Affairs, and has so far received 170 complaints.

The first page reads: "When you are found guilty, you will not be told what your sentence is - but it may well involve flogging, amputation or public beheading." The next page explains the situation in Saudi Arabia and asks for a donation.

An Amnesty spokesman said: "In each instance of complaint we have written to explain our position.

"There's no easy way to talk about what takes place in places like Saudi Arabia. We apologise for any fright, or momentary surprise, we have caused. We still think it is a justifiable marketing tactic."