A man who reported crime and antisocial behaviour in his neighbourhood has been accused of being a nuisance to police.

David Peapell said he had only dialled 999 to report drug dealing, violence and child abuse near his home in Kestrel Court, Whitehawk.

However after making in the region of 80 emergency calls in a month, Mr Peapell has been charged with making persistent nuisance calls.

Mr Peapell said: “My concern is this sends the wrong message. You can’t expect people to report crime and then arrest them if they do.

“I might have called them 70 or 80 times, but that’s how bad it is here.”

Mr Peapell, 43, said his neighbours were living in fear of drug dealers and youths and he was one of a handful of people prepared to stand up and call the police. He said he had been threatened with having his “throat cut out” when news of his calls to the police spread through the area.

He said: “It has been going mad with drug dealing and I was concerned about a baby.

“There are a lot of drugs about and a little girl being left unattended. I was seriously concerned that she could swallowdrugs and die.

“I feel I need to stand up for the good people who live here and are suffering every day.”

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: “David Peapell has been charged with persistently making use of public communications to cause annoyance, inconvenience and anxiety, between February 2 and 17 this year, contrary to Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003.

“The charge relates to eight alleged nuisance calls made to Sussex Police 0845 and 999 numbers between the two dates.”

Mr Peapell was released on bail, with the condition he does not contact the police for the purpose of reporting antisocial behaviour.

He was ordered to appear in court on April 1.