Burnley man tried to scare police with 'gun' (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Burnley man tried to scare police with 'gun'

4:02pm Thursday 27th September 2012 in News

A MAN who made 16 abusive phone calls to the police in 20 minutes claimed he had a gun when officers turned up at his home, a court heard.

Edward Desmond Todd, 53, also used offensive language to the officers and shouted to them from an open upstairs window.

Todd, who had been drinking, owned up when he was arrested and told police he was depressed.

Burnley magistrates were told that when Todd was taken to the police station, a doctor spoke to him about his medication and advised him to see his GP. He had since made an appointment.

The defendant, of Grey Street, Burnley, admitted causing to be sent by the public communication network an offensive, obscene or menacing message on September 7.

He was given a 12-month conditional discharge and must pay £85 costs.

Parveen Akhtar, prosecuting, said the calls did not threaten violence but were abusive.

Police went to Todd's home after 8pm and could see a light on in the upstairs front bedroom window.

Newspaper was covering the window and he was sitting on the sill with a mobile phone to his ear.

The officers knocked on the door, he did not answer it, but opened the window and was abusive.

He was asked to come down and continued to be insulting.

Miss Akhtar said Todd told the officers if they didn't stop knocking on his door, he was going to get his gun out.

She continued: “He didn't have anything like that. Nobody else was present at the address at the time. His mobile phone was taken off him.”

Catherine Fell, for Todd, said: “He doesn't have issues with alcohol. He sometimes uses it because his mind is spinning and it calms him down. He accepts he was under the influence.”

The Bench chairman told the defendant: “The police have a job to do and you made an extreme nuisance of yourself. It's not acceptable. You could have prevented them going somewhere else to attend a proper emergency.”