Judge jails drunken hoax 999 caller

Leeds Crown Court heard yesterday only a month after Ian Butler was given a community order on September 29 last year for two similar offences he started making the calls again.

On October 31 at 3am he dialled 999 complaining he had been hit by his wife with a chain but when officers arrived there had been no assault and he had no recollection of making the call.

On December 27 Butler again made an emergency call threatening to kill himself saying his wife was not talking to him, said Michael Greenhalgh prosecuting.

Further calls were made on January 19 and the next two days when he threatened to shoot or kill himself. On February 7 he complained he had been hit by his wife with a frying pan but later admitted all the calls were hoaxes, describing his behaviour as crazy.

Butler, 50 of Canal Lane, Wakefield admitted nine offences of making false calls and was jailed for 12 months. Judge Rodney Grant said they were serious offences and he was fortunate no genuine caller in danger had suffered as a result.