Peterborough man breached court order by making hoax call - three days after previous court appearance

Anthony Walsom, 56, was handed a criminal behaviour order (CBO) on 24 March after phoning 999 more than 50 times in a single day about fake emergencies.

One clause banned him from calling 999 unless in a genuine emergency.

However, after just three days Walsom phoned 999 again and threatened to assault police offers.

Walsom, of Ramsey Way, Stanground, Peterborough, appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court yesterday (28 July), and was fined £100 and ordered to pay £119 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching a criminal behaviour order.

PC Umar Shabir said: “Despite a strict court order and multiple previous warnings, Walsom continued to misuse the 999 system.

“The force’s call handlers work tirelessly day-in-day-out to protect the public and hoax calls can prevent them doing their job.

“The question I’d ask all hoax callers is: how would you feel if your friend or family member couldn’t get emergency help because a call handler was dealing with a hoax caller?

“The misuse of our 999 service can cost lives and will not be tolerated, nor will abusive behaviour.”

The order imposed restrictions on Walsom, meaning he must not:

- Contact 999, 101 or 111 unless in case of a genuine emergency requiring immediate assessment, action or treatment

- Cause others to feel they need to contact 999, 101 or 111 on his behalf, except when in genuine need of emergency services requiring immediate assessment, action or treatment

- Threaten, harass, intimidate, pester or alarm other persons who take any call on 999, 101 or 111