Five-year court order for man who threatened asylum seekers

A man who phoned a hotel to threaten asylum seekers has been handed a five-year criminal behaviour order.

Robert Shortman, 49, phoned a Cambridge hotel on a withheld number at about 5pm on 4 August and asked if the hotel was housing asylum seekers.

The call lasted about 36 seconds, during which Shortman expressed his disgust over the premises housing “immigrants”, and told the staff member to “be ready, we’ll be coming for them”.

Shortman’s call came amid national riots where anti-immigration protests and demonstrations, many of which were violent, took place across the UK.

Immediately after the call, the distressed staff member sent a panicked message to colleagues explaining what had happened.

Police were called and, despite him using a withheld number, the call was traced to Shortman who was later arrested at his home.

In interview, Shortman admitted phoning the hotel and talking about housing asylum seekers, but claimed he had no intention of actually going there, nor did he want to scare anyone.

Shortman, of Stevensons Road, Longstanton, pleaded not guilty to sending communications threatening death or serious harm but was found guilty after a trial.

At Peterborough Crown Court on Tuesday (15 October), he was handed a five-year criminal behaviour order banning him from visiting or contacting the hotel.

PC Ryan Curtis, who investigated, said: “Given the widespread disorder across the country, the call Shortman made would have been very distressing for staff at the hotel.

“They would have had no idea whether he was going to follow up on his threats and it would have only added to the climate of fear at the time.

“If Shortman is found to be in breach of this order, it is an arrestable offence, and we will put him back before the courts.”