A heavy-drinking troublemaker made a “menacing” telephone call to the police and threatened to attack a female officer after getting angry that she had allegedly “pulled a Taser on him” during an earlier visit to his home.
Father-of-two David Barber had “issues with authority” and his bad-tempered behaviour was a “burden and blight on the emergency services” because the police had more serious matters to deal with than his drink-fuelled antics, Hull Crown Court heard.
Barber, 42, of Ashworthy Close, off Bude Road, Bransholme, Hull, admitted making an offensive telephone call to the police on April 7.
Andrew Lister, prosecuting, said that Barber telephoned Humberside Police and asked that police go back to his home after an earlier visit there for an unrelated matter. During the “menacing” call, he made threats towards police.
Barber said during the call: “The officers that came to Ashworthy Close. Let them all come back because now I’m ready. After threatening me, I’m not going to let them get away with that.
“You have seen what I have done to your lot before. So I’m ready. Police know that. Come to me. I’m ready – so tell her to come back and I’ll knock the f*** out of her.” This an apparent threat to assault a female police officer.
“The defendant used threatening language,” said Mr Lister. Barber was arrested and he admitted making the call. He said that he was angry that the police had gone to his home and that “one of the female officers pulled a Taser on him”.
He had convictions for 20 previous offences. They included using threatening words or behaviour to cause fear of violence in March 2012, when he was given an 18-week suspended prison sentence as well as affray in June 2020, when he was given a 24-week suspended sentence. He had a conviction for sending letters as threatening messages in April 2023, when he was given a six-month suspended sentence. He was in breach of that order because the latest offences was committed four days before it was due to expire.
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David Godfrey, mitigating, said that Barber wanted to apologise for his actions. “He appreciates how unnecessary this behaviour was,” said Mr Godfrey. “It’s certainly something he wants to resolve.”
Barber worked 40 hours a week, he was well respected at work, he had a mortgage, contributed to society and had children. “On the flip side, he drinks to excess,” said Mr Godfrey.
“That’s the trigger. He is not someone who drinks socially. He either drinks a lot or not at all. He hasn’t drunk for a few weeks now.
“This is his last and final chance. To go to prison and lose his job and then to have to rebuild would be an extremely difficult prospect for him.”
Recorder Ayesha Smart told Barber: “You requested that the police re-attend your home following an attendance earlier the same day. You were threatening and there was no need for that type of behaviour. It’s abundantly clear that you have issues with authority and you are a burden and blight on the emergency services.
“You are distracting officers from things they should be dealing with, which are much more serious. You were in breach of a court order at the time.
“You had been drinking throughout the day and so it was aggravated by drink. Clearly, alcohol is a coping mechanism but you need to address your use of alcohol.”
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Barber was given a four-month suspended prison sentence, six months’ alcohol treatment and 12 days’ rehabilitation. He was fined £250 for breaching the previous suspended sentence.
“This is your last chance,” said Recorder Smart. “If you breach this order, you will go straight to prison. You have been subject to many suspended sentences in the past.”