A man has been jailed after he launched a lengthy campaign of harassment against a couple who withdrew from a property deal.

Majid Shamas, 37, of Capworth Street in Leyton, was sentenced to 11 weeks in prison and handed an indefinite restraining order at Thames Magistrate’s Court.

He had pleaded guilty in April to harassment of Ann and Terry Poulton and misuse of public electronic communications data.

The court heard how between October 4 2011 and August 19 2012 he had made numerous hoax calls to the emergency services citing various false incidents at the address across the road from his home.

Duriing one incident the couple were confronted by armed police after Shamas claimed shots had been fired in the house.

A voice recognition expert was used to confirm that Shamas had made the calls.

The calls began almost immediately after the married couple had decided to withdraw their house from sale due to ill health.

Shamas had used a variety of telephone numbers when placing the phone calls.

He was arrested on November 28 last year.

The sentencing follows an intricate investigation led by Detective Constable Rebecca Woodsford of Waltham Forest CID.

She said: “I would like to commend the victims for having both the courage and strength to come forward. This has been a life-changing experience for them both, which has unfortunately taken its toll both physically and mentally.”