Blackpool OAP jailed for bizarre series of 999 calls

Arthur Hunter’s latest 999 calls to police included complaining about a neighbour putting cat litter and cat food by his doorstep saying it attracted rats, plus moaning that he could not get hold of his solicitor.

His bizarre behaviour was fuelled by him drinking a litre of vodka plus one or two bottles of wine a day a court was told.

Hunter, 72, of Linden Place, Bispham, pleaded guilty to breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) which banned him from calling the emergency services unless there was a genuine emergency.

He also admitted being in breach of two suspended prison sentences imposed for making nuisance calls to the emergency services.

Hunter was sentenced to 22 weeks prison and ordered to pay £115 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said Hunter was put on a five-year CBO in March this year which banned him from calling police unless there was a genuine emergency.

On June 1 Hunter called police either on 999 or 101 six times between noon and 4.30pm with a series of complaints about non-emergencies such as his neighbour putting cat food and cat litter near his doorstep.

Hunter sounded drunk and was abusive and swore at operators he phoned.

Hugh Pond, defending, said of his client: “He is a chronic alcoholic. I don’t think it would be possible to get any worse then him. He drinks on average a litre bottle of vodka a day plus a bottle or two of wine.”

He added that Hunter lived in a one-bedroom flat, did not go out and had a carer come in.

He was often taken advantage of by others who drank his alcohol and sometimes stole money from him.

Mr Pond said: “In my view he needs assessing by a psychiatrist.”