A MAN made abusive and threatening phone calls to the police via the 999 emergency number because he thought they had the keys to his car.

Blackburn magistrates heard Aqeel Hussain now understood the keys had been given to his family and realised it had been the right thing to do.

Hussain, 39, of Hyndburn Road, Accrington, pleaded guilty to sending offensive and menacing messages via the public communications network. He was remanded on bail until January 19 for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Sazeeda Ismail, prosecuting, said police were called to Persia Street in Accrington following reports of a man sitting in his car drinking from a bottle of vodka.

"There was a suspicion he was going to drive but the police discovered he was not in possession of the keys," said Miss Ismail.

"His car was parked outside his own house and the keys were found inside the house and given to his sister to make sure he didn't drive the car."

Later the 999 operator started to receive phone calls which mentioned knives and baseball bats and an officer was despatched as a Grade 1 response.

"He was met by the defendant who demanded his keys back," said Miss Ismail. "There were four separate phone calls."

Gareth Price, defending, said with hindsight the defendant was grateful to the police and his family for removing the keys.

"He wasn't intending to drive but accepts it could have happened," said Mr Price.

"A build-up of pressure and tension in his private life, much of it as a result of the Covid-19 situation, caused him to drink on this particular night which is something he doesn't normally do."

Mr Price said there had been no direct threats to anyone and his client had no intention of carrying out any of them.