Salisbury man sentenced for making abuse calls to 999 call handlers
Richard Bowles made almost 2,000 calls to the ambulance service over a three-year-period.
A man from Salisbury has been sentenced for misusing the emergency call number by being abusive and sexually explicit.
Richard Bowles, 51, of Woodstock Road, Salisbury, was sentenced at Salisbury Crown Court on August 29 after pleading guilty to seven counts of sending indecent or grossly offensive electronic communications with intent to cause distress or anxiety.
Bowles was sentenced to a 5-year Criminal Behaviour Order preventing him from contacting emergency and non-emergency services and acting in an inappropriate sexualised manner.
In addition, he must complete an 18 month Community Order, undertake 20 rehabilitative days with the Probation Service, complete 120 hours unpaid work and pay a statutory surcharge to the courts.
The court heard the total cost of these incidents is estimated to be around £186,000.