Bijan Ebrahimi was beaten to death outside his home after contacting to police tell them he was being treated by an angry vigilante mob outside his home

Three PCs and a PCSO failed a disabled man who was burnt to death by vigilante neighbours despite making at least a dozen calls to police for help, a court heard.

Vulnerable Bijan Ebrahimi, 44, was beaten to death and set on fire by Lee James, 24, after being falsely branded a paedophile by a mob in Brislington, Bristol.

Two days earlier he called police to report he had been assaulted by James and was visited by PCs Leanne Winter, 38, and Helen Harris, 41.

When the experienced officers arrived, one noted James was so angry he was 'foaming at the mouth' and bragged he would 'do time' to protect his children.

But, instead of investigating Mr Ebrahimi's allegation, the two officers arrested him in front of a 'vigilante crowd' who mistakenly thought he was a paedophile.

The innocent Iranian-born immigrant was later released and made 12 further calls to police hoping beat officer Pc Kevin Duffy, 52, would help him.

But Bristol Crown Court heard despite being asked to investigate, Duffy said he was 'busy' because he 'disliked' Mr Ebrahimi and 'never found the time'.

Instead, he sent PCSO Andrew Passmore, 55, who claimed he spent an hour patrolling the area but in reality only stayed for 'three to four minutes', the jury were told.

Just 48 hours after he first asked for help - and despite even more calls to the police - Mr Ebrahimi was brutally murdered at 1am on July 14, 2013.

Duffy, Winter, Harris and Passmore, all officers with Avon and Somerset Constabulary, deny misconduct in a public office.

Opening the case against them today, prosecutor Crispin Aylett QC said: 'Two of the defendants, PC Winter and Harris, were sent to deal with [Mr Ebrahimi's] complaint.

'Lee James was so angry that he was said by PC Winter to have been foaming at the mouth. He was bragging that he would 'do time' to protect his children.

PC Kevin Duffy (left) and PCSO Andrew Passmore (right) are charged with misconduct in public office

PCs Helen Harris (left) and Leanne Winter (right) are also charged with the offence over their alleged failures

'You may well think that the danger of Lee James taking the law into his own hands could hardly have been plainer. Worst still, Lee James was not alone.

'A crowd had gathered in the area outside Bijan Ebrahimi's and most, if not all, of them agreed that he was a paedophile. Put simply, vigilantism was in the air.'

A crowd had gathered in the area outside Bijan Ebrahimi's and most, if not all, of them agreed that he was a paedophile. Put simply, vigilantism was in the air Prosecutor Crispin Aylett describes the atmosphere before the murder

Mr Aylett continued: 'Moreover, PCs Winter and Harris, who had been sent to investigate Mr Ebrahimi's complaint, they ended up arresting Bijan Ebrahimi.

'Therefore, the prosecution suggest, that did nothing to ensure that Mr Ebrahimi's original complaint was properly investigated. As far as Lee James' ugly threats, they were simply overlooked.

'Mr Ebrahimi was released the following day. In the course of that day, July 12, Mr Ebrahimi made no less than 12 calls to police in the hope that his beat manager, PC Duffy, would look on him and deal with his complaint against Lee James.

'It is however clear that PC Duffy did not like Bijan Ebrahimi. PC Duffy was asked a number of times [to visit] and PC Duffy said that he was busy, and he would go and see Mr Ebrahimi in his own good time.

Sitting in the dock today (left to right) were Police Constables Kevin Duffy, 52, Leanne Winter, 38 and Helen Harris, 40, and police community support officer Andrew Passmore, 55, at Bristol Crown Court, accused of failing vulnerable Bijan Ebrahimi who was wrongly branded a paedophile

Lee James (left) and Stephen Norley (left) have both been jailed over Mr Ebrahimi's shocking murder

Police at the scene in Brislington, Bristol after Mr Ebrahimi was beaten and burnt to death in 2013

'From the content of these calls, it is perfectly apparent that PC Duffy regarded Bijan Ebrahimi as a liar and in fact in one call he called him a "perpetual liar".

'He must also have regarded Mr Ebrahimi as a nuisance and he was, we suggest, simply not interested in any complaint that Mr Ebrahimi had.

'Despite being asked a numerous times to go and see Mr Ebrahimi, PC Duffy never seemed to find the time.'

He added: 'He did ask Mr Passmore to patrol the area around Mr Ebrahimi's home address.

A charred area of grass can be seen on the front lawn of the garden in which Mr Ebrahimi died

The vulnerable 44-year-old was beaten to death and set on fire here on Whitmore Avenue after being falsely branded a paedophile by a local mob

'Mr Passmore claimed that he had spent 40 minutes on foot patrol on the estate and a further 20 minutes on the adjacent streets.

'The truth is that he had done no more than drive up and down in his car for three to four minutes.'

Mr. Aylett said on the following day, July 13, Mr Ebrahimi continued to contact police without success, but 'nothing' was done.

'Had something been done, the prosecution suggest, Lee James would have realised that the police were at the very least keeping an eye on him,' he added. Instead he must have thought he could simply do as he pleased.

'All in all, the prosecution suggest, there was a potentially toxic situation that called for proactive and effective policing. The prosecution contest that all of these defendants failed.'

Mr Ebrahimi filmed his killer Lee James in the days before the attack but he was arrested when police arrived

Describing the fatal attack, the prosecutor added added: 'At around 1am on July 14, Lee James attacked Bijan Ebrahimi outside his flat.

'He punched and kicked Mr Ebrahimi until he lost consciousness then with the help of another man, Lee James set fire to Bijan Ebrahimi's body.

'The only mercy is that Mr Ebrahimi must have lost consciousness before he was set alight.'

Lee James, now 24, has been sentenced to life for his murder. Stephen Norley, 25, who lived next door to James, admitted assisting an offender and was jailed for four years.