A Lancashire man has been jailed for making a series of lewd phone calls to a BBC News correspondent.
Amjad Khan, 49, of Dereham Street, Blackburn, was convicted of sending an obscene message following a recent trial at Blackburn Magistrates' Court.
He was sentenced by the same court on Friday, 18th January 2025.
It is an offence under section 127 of the Communications Act 2003 to send, by means of a public electronic communications network, a message or other matter that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character. The maximum sentence on summary conviction is 26 weeks' custody and/or an unlimited fine.
The court heard that Khan, who has previous convictions for sexual assault and sending obscene messages, made a series of lewd phone calls to BBC News special correspondent Lucy Manning.
Ms Manning had the presence of mind to record one of the calls, in which Khan could be heard saying "Lucy, Lucy" whilst pleasuring himself. The other calls, made to Ms Manning's personal mobile phone, were of a similar nature.
Jonathan Taylor, mitigating, said his client denied the offence and believed he had been wrongly convicted.
That said, the 49-year-old "accepts the decision has been made and will do everything he is told to by the court or Probation Service".
District Judge Alexandra Preston, sentencing, described the police's initial response to Ms Manning's complaint as "very poor".
Had it not been for Ms Manning's determination and persistence the police were keen to deal with the matter outside of court.
DJ Preston branded Khan's crime a "nasty, sordid offence committed for the defendant's perverted sexual gratification".
She added: "It makes women feel unsafe, very vulnerable and distressed, even in their own home."
Khan was sentenced to 22 weeks' immediate custody.
No comments:
Post a Comment