Pensioner faces jail for nuisance 999 calls

A pensioner was yesterday warned he faced jail after making persistent 999 calls to the police.Rodney Willsher, 67, admitted making the calls from his sheltered housing complex in High Street, Lowestoft, in January after he had been drinking.

A pensioner was yesterday warned he faced jail after making persistent 999 calls to the police.

Rodney Willsher, 67, admitted making the calls from his sheltered housing complex in High Street, Lowestoft, in January after he had been drinking.

Colette Griffiths, prosecuting, told Lowestoft magistrates Willsher made 14 calls to the police between January 5, 10 and 21 and one call to the coastguard.

She said operators terminated the calls when Willsher admitted he was not calling about an emergency and when the incidents were reported to police, officers went to Willsher's home and removed his telephone from the socket.

She said: 'In police interview, he said he was using the telephone while not fully in control of what he was doing, and the operators had said he seemed to be drunk at the time.'

In November last year Willsher was fined �100 after admitting making 20 nuisance calls to the emergency services. Yesterday the magistrates adjourned proceedings so probation reports could be compiled.

Chairman of the bench John Wren said: 'This is a very serious offence because of the disruption it can cause to the emergency services.

'This could involve a community penalty, even going up to a prison sentence. We are keeping all options open.'

Willsher was granted unconditional bail and will return to court on April 1.