Man sentenced for sending abusive texts to police

Matthew Brierley, 44 of Wellfield Street, Rochdale has been sentenced for harassment after sending a number of abusive text messages, letters and cards to a police officer.

Brierley pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment without violence at a previous hearing and received a 12 month community order, 100 hours of unpaid work, restraining orders barring him from contacting two victims and has been ordered to pay £145 in costs.

Brierley bombarded a police officer, who cannot be named for legal reasons, with abusive messages and phones call for four years. The messages and letters began after the officer became concerned about Brierley’s mental health. The officer had referred him to a support team after the two met in 2009 when Brierley was reporting an alleged crime.

It also emerged at Oldham Magistrates Court that Brierley sent abusive messages to mental health nurse, Stephen King.

The police officer originally filed a complaint against Brierley in 2011. This lead to him being issued with a warning but he did not stop the contact until charges where filed in 2012.

Brierley has never been diagnosed with any mental health problems and admitted that there were elements of harassment about the messages he sent.