A man sleeping rough on a petrol station forecourt called 999 claiming to be suicidal - before launching a foul-mouthed text tirade at police 'in an attempt to get locked up'.
Danny Hawkshaw sent abusive messages, saying he would 'stab himself' and 'anyone who tried to stop him'.
The 26-year-old said he 'felt like killing the P***s' said to have been running the petrol station in Salford where he had been sleeping.
He told a male officer sent to help him: "I want to speak to a female, not a rat like you."
Questioned about the 999 call, in which he requested an ambulance, Hawkshaw said he dialled because he wanted a bed for the night.
Today (Thursday), Hawkshaw appeared at Manchester Magistrates' Court.
He pleaded guilty to crimes under the Communications Act. He will be sentenced at a later date.
Earlier, prosecutor Martha Dowd said officers were scrambled to the Texaco garage in Swinton at around 3am on April 29 following a 999 call, in which it was claimed Hawkshaw was suicidal.
When police arrived, Hawkshaw, who had a phone, was able to text them.
One message read: "I will bang the police. You better stay back or I will stab myself or anyone who tries to stop me. I’m really serious."
Hawkshaw then used racial slurs and added: "I will bang the first police officer then pour petrol over them."
Officers tried to speak to him as he lay in a sleeping bag on the forecourt.
In a call, he told a call handler to 'shut the f*** up'.
Ms Dowd said Hawkshaw later shouted at officers and told them he 'just wanted a bed for the night'. He was then arrested.
Defence lawyer Steven Sullivan said that following his release from prison, his client had been ‘going from town to town’.
“There was no hope, no direction and he found himself in Salford,” Mr Sullivan added.
“He was found two to three weeks ago sleeping on the forecourt of a petrol station in Swinton. They took him to a hostel and left him there for a bed.
“He couldn’t be given one due to COVID-19 and the social distancing measures.
“He has been sleeping wherever he can since.
“On this occasion, his sleeping bag was wet through. His first thought was that he was unwell and he wanted to go to hospital because he had suicidal thoughts.
“He does have a history of self-harm.
“Therefore, he phoned 999 and requested an ambulance.
“Apparently a police car attended instead and he then switched strategy and tried to get himself locked up for the night for somewhere... dry.
“This was something of a cry for help. He said he was desperate and wanted somewhere to sleep for the night.
“These were empty threats made over text.”
Interrupting the solicitor’s remarks, District Judge Margaret McCormack said: “He’s tying up emergency services at a time of national emergency whose numbers are high and staff are stretched - because he wants a bed for the night.”
Mr Sullivan added: “Your Honour, you are not dealing with somebody thinking rationally, he wasn’t thinking straight.
“He wasn’t thinking things through carefully. He wasn’t thinking of the bigger picture, he was thinking of himself and he accepts that.
“It was desperation rather than devilish intent.”
Hawkshaw will be sentenced on July 23 following the preparation of a presentence report.
He admitted 'sending by means of a public electronic communications manner - namely telephone calls to Greater Manchester Police 999 system - that was grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character'.
