Sheffield man guilty of 'obscene' and 'indecent' calls to police control room

Police are looking for a 59-year-old man who has been convicted of making a string of "disgusting" and "perverse" calls to the emergency service.

Mark Clayton, from Sheffield, bombarded the police control room's 101 number with inappropriate calls and comments during two days in October last year.

He made 19 calls in which he discussed his sex life in a perverse way and made false accusations, South Yorkshire Police said.

An investigation was launched after call handlers voiced their concerns.

Clayton, of Periwood Lane, was charged with sending offensive, obscene, indecent and menacing messages but failed to appear at Sheffield Crown Court and was found guilty in his absence.

A warrant for his arrest has been issued.

Ch Supt Cherie Buttle said:"Our call handlers come to work to help people and serve their communities.

“They deserve to be treated with respect and not spoken to with such disgusting comments and suggestions.

“In addition to Clayton’s disgusting behaviour over the telephone, he was taking valuable resources away from people who needed us.

“Every day, call handlers answer around 2,500 calls. It is important that our lines are available for emergency calls."

The force is appealing to anyone who knows Clayton's whereabouts to get in touch.

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