Abusive 999 caller jailed
Lazarus Willmott was abusive towards call handlers
Work, by officers in Harlow, has ensured swift justice for a man, who repeatedly called 999, leaving abusive messages.
59 year-old Lazarus Willmott was sentenced to six weeks in prison yesterday (Monday 24 August), at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court.
He had admitted persistently making use of public communication network to cause annoyance, inconvenience and anxiety and racially or religiously aggravated harassment or alarm.
Willmott, of Great Brays, Harlow, made six calls to the emergency 999 number between 7.40am and 8.06am on Sunday (23 August).
On each occasion, he was abusive towards the call handler, wishing harm on officers.
When he was arrested at his home and brought into custody, he then racially abused an officer.
Temporary Chief Inspector Emily Holmes, District Commander for Harlow, said: “Our dedicated and hardworking call handlers come to work every day, to help people in the moment of greatest need.
“They do not deserve to be faced with such a barrage of abuse, much of it in this case really upsetting in its nature.
“And no-one should face racial abuse in any context. Sadly, this incident highlights what officers face on a regular basis, when keeping the public safe and bringing suspects into custody.
“I’m really proud of my officers, who were able to identify and arrest Lazarus Willmot, put him before the court and see him sentenced so quickly.”
Chief Inspector Stuart Rawlings, Head of the Contact Centre, said: “Our contact handlers are here to help people, often at some of the most difficult moments in their lives.
“Nobody should come to work and be subjected to abuse, for simply doing their job.
“Abuse of the 999 system is not only unacceptable, it can also prevent genuine callers in need of urgent help from getting through, when they need us most.”