Dorothy Anlezark, 75, pictured outside Manchester Magistrates’ Court, got drunk and repeatedly rang the emergency services in the days after the suicide bombing last May
A pensioner has been shamed after making a string of nuisance 999 calls shouting: ‘Muslims Out’ in the wake of the Manchester Arena terror attack.
Dorothy Anlezark, 75, got drunk and repeatedly rang the emergency services in the days after the suicide bombing last May.
The atrocity killed 22 people and injured 400 others following an Ariana Grande concert.
During the calls Anlezark, who lives alone in Clifton, Greater Manchester, hurled abuse at call handlers and shouted: ‘Muslims out. All Muslims out. Get them out!’
Police tracked her down and arrested her but the OAP then made another threatening 999 call saying: ‘If you come here with batons, I will baton you.’
Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard the 999 calls made by Anlezark had gone on for five years and police had repeatedly spoken to her about them.
It emerged 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 communication conveying a threatening message between May and November 2017 but was given a two-year conditional discharge after she ‘accepted the error of her ways.’
Earlier 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.
Police tracked down the pensioner and arrested her but the OAP then made another threatening 999 call saying: ‘If you come here with batons, I will baton you’
‘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 atrocity killed 22 people and injured 400 others following an Ariana Grande concert. Pictured: Well-wishers gather in the city’s St Ann’s Square after the attack
During the calls Anlezark, who lives alone in Clifton, Greater Manchester, hurled abuse at call handlers and shouted ‘Muslims out. All Muslims out. Get them out!’ following the attack in May
‘She was shouting: ‘Muslims out. All Muslims out. Get them out.’
‘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.
Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard the 999 calls made by Anlezark had gone on for five years and police had repeatedly spoken to her about them
‘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 re-offending 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.
‘She was at home, very isolated and when she decided to have a drink she would get on the phone and make these comments. It is a sad case; she is now 75 years of age.’
Sentencing Anlezark JP Hamid Pouladi said: ‘We sincerely hope what we have been told is how you are feeling and realising the error of your ways and stopping what is causing you to go down that route which is alcohol.
‘We are minded to go with a recommendation from probation which is a conditional discharge.
‘That will hang over your head for the next two years. We are not going to punish you today for these offences even though they are serious so you can address the problems you have.’