A Carlisle man has appeared in court accused of making nuisance 999 calls reporting the presence of a man with a gun at a city retail park.
Ben Addison, 26, faces one charge arising out of an incident which sparked an armed response by police officers yesterday morning.
Addison appeared in front of city magistrates today. He formally pleaded not guilty to one charge which alleges that he persistent made use of a public electronic communications network for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety.
Prosecutor George Shelley alleged that two 999 calls had been made reporting that a male with a sports bag and a handgun was in the area of St Nicholas Gate retail park, off London Road.
Details of Addison’s defence to the charge were outlined by his solicitor, Mark Shepherd.
Addison spoke in court to confirm his name, date of birth, that his address was a hotel on London Road in Carlisle; and to enter his plea.
A trial was fixed and is due to take place at the city magistrates’ court on July 9. In the meantime he has been granted conditional bail.
Cumbria police said this morning: “From further enquires carried out it has been established that the individual never had access to a firearm and there was no firearm involved in the incident yesterday.”
