Man threatened police workers during nine calls after Sunderland hostel theft report

Rasoul Razaei, 47, made them in the belief officers had not acted appropriately when coming to his aid at a Sunderland hostel late on Wednesday, January 6.

He told police who attended the city’s Salvation Army’s Poplar House facility in Tatham Street, Hendon, his wallet had been stolen and he had been assaulted, a court heard.

But drunken Razaei, of Waterloo Walk, Washington, then made the calls just after midnight the next day when he became frustrated at their response

His exact words used during the communications, which lasted until 4am, were not revealed to magistrates in South Tyneside.

However, prosecutor Leanne Duffy said they had been threatening in nature and each had lasted up to seven minutes.

Razaei has now been fined £100 after pleading guilty to sending a communication or conveying false information which was indecent or grossly offensive.

Ms Duffy said: “The police were called to Poplar House, where the defendant was with two other occupants.

“The defendant began calling the police on his mobile phone, with each call lasting up to seven minutes.

“No call is asking for help. They were made between midnight and 4am.

“There’s no guidelines for this offence but the starting point would be a fine.”

Greg Flaxen, defending, said his client had come to the UK as a student after leaflets he displayed about Iran's government drew the attention of the country’s police.

He added: “Sometimes cultures, sometimes the way he presents himself, one could see it as aggressive, but it’s simply how he deals with people, one to another.

“He had been drinking with a friend and he was intoxicated. His wallet was stolen, and the police had come.

“He was then attacked, but he felt that the police didn’t want to deal with him.”

At the time of the offence, Razaei was subject to a four-week prison sentence, suspended for a year, for a public order crime.

Magistrates did not trigger the sentence and send him to prison after hearing it had almost expired when Razaei committed his latest offence.

He must also pay £85 court costs and a £34 victim surcharge.

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