Obscene caller jailed

The calls were made on unregistered mobile phones

A supermarket worker described as the UK's most prolific obscene telephone caller has been jailed for four years.

Alan Snell made more than 10,000 obscene or threatening calls over two years using six unregistered mobile phones, said police.

The calls made by Snell, of Harrison Avenue, Thornton, Lancashire, had a "profound" effect on his female victims, a court heard.

The 39-year-old, originally from Troon, Ayrshire, had previously admitted a charge of causing a public nuisance and was sentenced on Monday.

'Blighted lives'

During a hearing at Preston Crown Court, Snell was described as a pathetic and inadequate man who hid behind a telephone because he was afraid of contact with women.

In one six-week period he made 6,000 calls obscene or threatening calls, police said.

It's anyone's guess how many women he targeted

Detective Constable Ness Gregson

Judge Peter Openshaw QC said Snell had blighted many lives.

Snell contacted businesses that displayed telephone numbers outside their premises and would also dial numbers at random, the court heard.

If women answered he would begin an obscene dialogue.

Victims feared they were being stalked, as he would often tell them what car they drove and what time they started and finished work, the court heard.

Some were too scared to leave the house alone.

Snell was tracked down following a nationwide police investigation involving officers from five forces co-ordinated by detectives in Fleetwood, Lancashire.

'Still afraid'

Snell claimed he had no recollection of the calls after drinking litres of cider.

The phone stalker spent £200 out of his £240 weekly Safeway wages on pay-as-you-go mobiles.

Detectives eventually traced Snell in February after discovering the calls were being routed through a switching centre in Lancashire.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Constable Ness Gregson, said: "He frightened these women to death.

"Some of his victims are still afraid of answering their phone.

"It's anyone's guess how many women he targeted."