Hartlepool man made vile threats posing as former friend

Martin Richardson told one police officer he was going to rape their daughter after posting a picture of the youngster as well as confessing to the murder of Scott Fletcher and pretending to have buried his body.

The 31-year-old repeatedly call 999, using a system for hearing impaired, wearing a mask and a hoodie in a vain attempt to hide his identity.

Richardson also made a bomb threat to Hartlepool Police station resulting in the room of his former friend being raided by several officers in the early hours of the morning on December 28 last year.

Read next: Banned driver reached 80 mph in police chase through Darlington town centre

Teesside Crown Court heard how Richardson sought revenge on his former friend, who is also deaf, after they fell out but the defendant had access to his online password after helping him to set up his accounts.

Judge Chris Smith branded Richardson’s threats and confessions as vile as he locked him up for 37 months.

Martin Richardson (Image: Cleveland Police)

"You decided to take revenge. You set about engaging on a campaign of misinformation and slander. The emergency services maintained a 999-video service for those like you, who are deaf and use sign language.

"In the end of November last year and January of this year you made a series of 15 calls to that service. You disguised yourself and claimed to be (name of his former friend). You made a series of confessions to increasingly serious offences,” he said.

“Your messages included vile and threatening messages to these police officers, including a sinister series of messages which included an image of their children.”

Read more:

• Police officer pushed in chest when he tried to arrest anti-vax protester
• Two members of 2-in-1 burglary gang locked up following spate of crimes
• 'Greedy' sub contractor stole specialist equipment from energy plant

​Get all the latest crime and court updates, for less than the price of a coffee, with a Premium Plus digital subscription to The Northern Echo. Click here

Richardson, formerly of Raby Gardens, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice and sending malicious communications.

Sam Faulks, prosecuting, said the defendant’s former friend had been left traumatised by his behaviour and had been forced to move home as a result.

In a victim impact statement, the man said: "All of these events have impacted on my mental health. I've had to increase my medication I've just become so depressed. The fact I have been moved for my own protection is upsetting as I haven't done anything wrong.”

Jennifer Coxon, in mitigation, said her client suffered from a learning difficulty and had reflected on the nature of his behaviour while he was remanded in custody.