Meysam Kordi, 32, (pictured) had been living in Dukinfield, Greater Manchester, when he was denied access to free healthcare which had resulted in him ‘losing his teeth’
An asylum seeker who had become increasingly frustrated over a severe toothache tried to persuade police to shoot him by claiming he was wearing a suicide vest.
Meysam Kordi, 32, had been living in Dukinfield, Greater Manchester, when he was denied access to free healthcare which had resulted in him ‘losing his teeth’.
It is thought he became increasingly ‘frustrated about issues with the Home Office’ and last month Kordi prompted a huge emergency response at his flat when he told officers he had attached explosives to himself.
Kordi was today jailed for one year over the stunt.
Kordi, who came to the UK from Iran in November 2018, made the threats on January 16 earlier this year.
Armed officers were scrambled to the scene and cordoned off the area with nearby businesses being evacuated.
Bomb disposal experts arrived at his flat and examined the bogus vest before deeming it ‘non-viable’.
Kordi later told Minshull Street Crown Court that he had wanted armed police to turn up and shoot him.
Speaking at the trial, a judge said the incident caused ‘real fiscal loss’ and had a serious impact on the community.
Prosecutor Duncan Wilcock said Kordi made a call to police and appeared to be speaking though an interpreter.
Last month Kordi prompted a huge emergency response at his flat when he told officers he had attached explosives to himself
He said he was ‘frustrated about issues with the Home Office’.
Kordi also said he had been denied access to free healthcare, which had resulted in him ‘losing his teeth’.
Mr Wilcock said: ‘He told police he had made previous attempts on his own life and that he had attached explosives to himself.
‘The defendant told them he wanted police to attend and for them to be armed.’
Kordi told police he did not want to hurt them but that instead he wanted them to shoot him.
The interpreter, who was with the defendant at the time, asked if there was anything police could do to help.
Kordi replied: ‘Release me of this life.’
Armed officers were scrambled to the scene and cordoned off the area with nearby businesses being evacuated. Bomb disposal experts arrived at his flat and examined the bogus vest before deeming it ‘non-viable’
Mr Wilcock said: ‘Firearms officers negotiated with this defendant with the help of an interpreter.
‘Over time, he came out and removed his outer clothing and took off the vest he was wearing.’
The defendant was arrested at the scene.
In mitigation, James Preece said his client – who has no previous convictions – was ‘deeply, deeply sorry’ and that he had ‘no intention of harming anyone’.
He added that the defendant ‘bitterly regrets his actions’ was having ‘feelings of desperation’ at the time.
Mr Preece said: ‘The reason for that desperation were the problems he was suffering with his teeth.
‘He said that for six months he was suffering with severe toothache and had lost a lot of his teeth and that he needed paperwork to see a dentist.
‘He did eventually get that paperwork and was able to get treatment.
‘He was suffering from depression and there was frustration in relation to the asylum process.’
Judge Bernadette Baxter at Minshull Street Crown Court (pictured) said Kordi’s frustration ‘did not justify’ his actions and jailed him for 12 months
Kordi, of Birch Lane, Dukinfield, pleaded guilty to placing an article with intent to cause fear and sending false messages with to cause annoyance, inconvenience or anxiety.
Judge Bernadette Baxter said Kordi’s frustration ‘did not justify’ what he did and jailed him for 12 months.
Sentencing, the judge told him: ‘You came to this country in November 2018 seeking asylum from Iran and were moved into a flat on Birch Lane for asylum seekers.
‘Sadly, your asylum application took time as it inevitably would do and you became frustrated about that process.
‘I accept that you had medical problems that needed treatment and your status as an asylum seeker made it difficult for you to access to necessary treatment.
‘However, that does not justify what you did.’
Judge Baxter said it was a ‘planned and premeditated’ incident, which resulted in ‘great public expense and inconvenience’.
The judge continued: ‘Firearms officers, the fire brigade and explosives experts had to attend at the scene and roads were cordoned off.
‘Businesses were evacuated and children had to be kept in school because their parents could not get access to collect them.
‘This had real community impact causing real fiscal loss and resources over a period of time.
‘Only an immediate period of custody can be justified, both as a punishment and a deterrent to others.’