Shame of pensioner who made nuisance 999 calls after bomb
A PENSIONER made a string of nuisance 999 calls shouting ‘Muslims out’ in the wake of the Manchester Arena bombing.
Dorothy Anlezark repeatedly rang emergency services while drunk just over a week after the atrocity.
In court, her lawyer said the calls, made on May 30, may have been ‘as a result of the Manchester bombing,’ as the 75-year-old referenced the blast.
Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard Anlezark, from Clifton, Salford, hurled abuse at call handlers and shouted: “Muslims out. All Muslims out. Get them out.”
After police tracked her down, she made another threatening call, saying: “If you come here with batons, I will baton you.”
The court was told the 999 calls had gone on for five years and that officers had repeatedly spoken to Anlezark.
In some instances, she would call 999 for a ‘chat’ about unimportant matters due to her isolation and loneliness.
Anlezark admitted two offences of sending a communication conveying a threatening message between May and November 2017.
She was handed a two year conditional discharge after she said she now ‘accepted the error of her ways.’
Prosecuting, Mr Gareth Hughes said: “The background to this case is something the police have been dealing with for quite some time. They tried to deal with it in other ways to avoid prosecution but got to a point where all avenues had been explored.
“The defendant made a high volume of calls to the police. 999 call handlers have been dealing with these calls over the past five years.
“They have tried to refer the defendant for mental health treatment or other assistance but for one reason or another she did not engage.
“Sometimes it is just wanting to talk about unimportant matters and other times it is abusive. In May 2017 a number of calls were made on the 30th, this may be as a result of the Manchester bombing and there is reference made.
“The police arrested her and she was summoned to court. Following her first appearance there was a further call – that was a threatening phone call.
“She contacted the police, gives her name and uses the same number saying ‘if you come here with batons, I will baton you.’”
In mitigation defence lawyer Mr Nnamdi Inegbu said: “The defendant has pleaded guilty and has never tried to step back from her actions.
“There were concerns about dementia and she has been offered help but has not embraced that help as much as she should have done.
“There has not been any reoffending since these matters have been to court and I think she has really recognised and accepted the error of her ways. This stems from a combination of loneliness, drinking and stress.”
Sentencing Anlezark, JP Hamid Pouladi said: “We sincerely hope what we have been told is how you are feeling and stop what is causing you to go down that route which is alcohol.”