A 29-year-old male has been sent to prison for two years after he abused 999 control room staff and assaulted a police officer with a metal bar.
A man who identified himself as ‘Matt Gray’ called Essex Police via the 999 emergency system at around 02:00 hours on Friday 29th May.
The male did not have an emergency to report but instead unleashed a barrage of verbal abuse on the 999 operator.
The call handler terminated the call, but the male kept phoning 999 and continued to be abusive towards emergency control room staff.
He also threatened to attack any police officer who turned up at his address with a crossbow.
Response team officers were sent to the area to investigate, and as they approached Park Lane, they saw a male. When he spotted the police car, he jumped over a fence and tried to hide.
The police officers searched the area for the male, and he was found hiding in a garden.
As soon as officers approached the male, he immediately became aggressive and assaulted one of the police officers with a metal pole.
The officer sustained a large cut to his head and required treatment in hospital for his injuries.
Matthew Gray, 29, of Ambleside Drive in Southend-on-Sea, was charged with assaulting an emergency worker and ABH.
He admitted the charges and on 29th July at Basildon Crown Court was sentenced to two years in prison.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Rory Scarlett said:
“Assaulting a police officer is never acceptable.
“We go to work to protect the public and keep you safe. While there is always an element of potential risk to what we do, no-one should turn up to work with the expectation they will be assaulted.
“Matthew Gray showed no concerns about attacking an officer and using a weapon to do so.
“He now faces time behind bars and I hope he’ll use that time to consider his actions.”
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