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Drunk Gravesend man racially abused Kent Police call handler as he tried to hand himself in

A drunk who dialled 999 to hand himself in went on to racially abuse the call handler – telling her to go f*** herself.

Harnek Pannum called Kent Police and informed the control room worker he believed officers were looking for him in relation to a fall out with his parents over Christmas.

Pannum racially abused a call-handler at the Kent Police control room. Stock picture: Kent Police
Pannum racially abused a call-handler at the Kent Police control room. Stock picture: Kent Police

The 43-year-old started talking incoherently as he was so drunk but police employee Jade Young managed to understand the call wasn't an emergency.

When she told him to go to a police station instead, he started getting angry and swore at her – also calling her a white b******.

He was later arrested over the matter and charged with racially aggravated harassment and several other offences in relation to the fall out with his family.

Pannum, of The Avenue, Gravesend, initially denied the allegations in court on January 3 and was remanded in custody.

The case was adjourned and he returned to appear before magistrates in Medway on February 23 where he changed his plea to guilty in relation to racially aggravated harassment of Ms Young.

The court heard he'd made the call just after midnight on January 1 but Paul Roach, prosecuting, said the other charges he was facing in relation to his family, had been withdrawn.

Pannum admitted racially abusing the woman when he appeared at Medway Magistrates Court. Stock picture: John Nurden
Pannum admitted racially abusing the woman when he appeared at Medway Magistrates Court. Stock picture: John Nurden

Mr Roach told the court Ms Young had made a victim impact statement saying she'd never been spoken to like that while she was at work and that the night in question had been a very busy one.

Magistrates were also told Pannum had been in custody since his arrest over the matter and had at least 22 previous offences, including harassment which he'd previously been given a community order for.

He'd only spoken to Ms Young in that manner because he'd been so intoxicated, the court heard.

The bench decided to jail him for 40 days but, because he had been in custody since January, he was released immediately.

Chairman of the bench, Dipakkumar Patel, said: "You are 43, take some responsibility for yourself. You can't continue like this. Do you understand?

"That is your final chance, there will be more custody (if you offend again) in the future."

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