Birmingham Men Convicted for Sinister Hoax 999 Calls Costing £100,000
Two men from Birmingham have been convicted for making a series of malicious hoax 999 calls, including false claims that a baby had been left on railway tracks, which prompted a massive police response and wasted an estimated £100,000 in emergency resources. Shahid Khan, 31, and Zaynul Shaffi, 44, engaged in a disturbing pattern of deception over 78 days in 2024 and 2025, making a total of 122 calls using different handsets and SIM cards while altering their accents to evade detection.
Details of the Hoax Calls and Police Response
The hoax calls were not only numerous but also highly sinister in nature. In one instance in August 2024, one of the men called 999 to report that he had left a baby named Josh on train tracks after discovering his wife was cheating on him. This false alarm led to a significant deployment of emergency services, including nearly 20 police vehicles, more than 30 officers, and even a helicopter, as confirmed by West Midlands Police. During the response, Shaffi sent a message to Khan boasting, “Got the chopper out,” with Khan requesting a video of the scene.
Other fabricated emergencies included claims of being shot and having drowned a pregnant wife and family. The callers provided false details and then watched as emergency services arrived at the scenes, seemingly reveling in the chaos they caused. Police also uncovered a message from Shaffi responding to a news article about a bomb hoax, where he stated, “They’re not like us man, we do our thing undetected,” highlighting their deliberate attempts to avoid capture.
Legal Outcomes and Statements from Authorities
Zaynul Shaffi, of Barrows Road, Sparkbrook, admitted to intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance and was sentenced to three years in prison at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday, April 7. Shahid Khan, of Whichford Grove, Bordesley Green, was deemed unfit to stand trial, but a jury found that he had committed the acts charged. His sentencing is scheduled for a later date.
Detective Sergeant Ross Somerfield from Birmingham CID emphasized the serious impact of these hoax calls, stating, “The calls were often very serious and sinister, resulting in immediate responses from specialist officers including firearms and drone units. That would then obviously have the knock-on effect of potentially delaying our response to genuine emergencies.” He added that the men took pride in their attempts to hide their tracks, but sophisticated digital policing techniques ultimately led to their identification and arrest.
Broader Implications and Warnings
Chief Superintendent Sally Simpson, head of the Force Contact department, underscored that hoax calls are not victimless crimes. She explained, “They have real world consequences and can mean the difference between us getting to an emergency in time to stop a crime or stop someone coming to harm, and us not getting there in time. We work 24/7 to respond to the public and provide the best service possible. Anyone who deliberately tries to stop us from doing that should know that we will take action, and as this case shows, they face the possibility of jail time.”
This case serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of preserving emergency resources for genuine crises and the severe legal repercussions for those who abuse the 999 system. The convictions highlight the dedication of West Midlands Police in using advanced investigative methods to combat such crimes and protect public safety.
