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An 'irate' rough sleeper bombarded the police with 999 calls, falsely reporting crimes including murder and kidnap.

Richard Lawton made 72 hoax calls in a two-week period, also suggesting people were being attacked or followed.

Police attended on a number of occasions, but found nothing.

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Lawton, 37, was given a number of warnings not to call the police unless it was an actual emergency - but he failed to stop.

North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard Lawton made 72 calls to Staffordshire Police between September 1 and 13.

Prosecutor Suzanne Swindail said: "He reported a number of things including murder, kidnap, armed robbery, and said people were being either attacked or followed.

"Poli

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