Ex-lover in string of police hoax calls - alleging drugs stash and someone with gun at former girlfriend's home
A man who made hoax calls to police – sending them to his ex-partner's house and claiming there was a large stash of drugs and someone waving a gun – has been sentenced to 150 hours' unpaid work.
Ricky Charles Smith, of Park Village, Wolverhampton, appeared at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court after admitting 'persistently making use of a public communications network for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, or needless anxiety to another'.
The court was told that during a four-hour period on September 24 this year the 31-year-old made four 'false malicious' phone calls to police from a pay phone.
In each call he used a different name, including Richard and Levi Douglas, initially reporting a large quantity of drugs was at his ex-partner's Colman Avenue address.
In a subsequent call he said a 'large black male' had a machete, and in another said a 'black male was standing on the door step waving a gun'. Police went to the property once and determined the calls were false.
His ex-partner, the complainant, told police she believed it was Smith making the nuisance calls. He was arrested by police near the address shortly after making the fourth call at about 9.30pm.
Prosecutor Val Hart said Smith made a 'full and frank admission' to making the calls.
Smith was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to his ex-partner, a £60 victim surcharge, and £85 costs. His ex-partner did not ask for a restraining order.
