AN EMERGENCY services abuser who made more than a DOZEN hoax 999 calls for ambulances to be despatched to his home has been jailed.

Drunken Denis Mitchell bombarded the mercy telephone line, falsely stating that he was suffering from seizures and chest pains — with one call causing paramedics to come all the way from Largs.

In three other calls — made over a 35-minute period — the 45-year-old stated that he’d fallen down a flight of stairs, had burnt his fingers and also couldn’t move his legs.

Police, alerted to Mitchell’s antics by the Scottish Ambulance Service, found him in bed swilling cans of lager while his house phone was still connected to the 999 line.

Sheriff Derek Hamilton previously told him: “These are very serious matters.”

Procurator fiscal depute Pamela Brady told Greenock Sheriff Court how Mitchell committed the offences between January 28 and 29 — then repeated them on February 9 after being released on the initial charges.

He made his first call at 11.20am on January 28 and continued calling until 7.12am the following morning, sparking numerous ambulance visits to his home in Port Glasgow’s Moidart Road — but refusing any medical treatment.

Mrs Brady said: “At 1.30am a call by the accused indicated that he required assistance and an ambulance crew was despatched from Largs because none were available within Inverclyde at this time.
“At 5.45am there was a further call from the accused who said that he’d fallen down stairs. Then at 5.55am the accused called again and said that he’d burnt his fingers then at 6.20am called again, under the influence of alcohol. He stated that he couldn’t move his legs.
“An ambulance crew was despatched but again the accused refused treatment or to be taken to hospital.”
Mrs Brady added: “He made a 999 call at 7.12am and during this said that he’d lost his dog and that he was not long out of hospital and wanted to die.
“The accused was found to be in his bedroom, drinking lager and playing music loudly.
“He shouted and swore at the police on their arrival.
“He was taken to hospital in an ambulance and was accompanied by the police.
“He continued his abusive behaviour and stated, ‘You’re nothing but a taxi service’.”
Mitchell made five 999 calls on February 9 whilst on bail for his January offences, the court was told.
Prosecutor Mrs Brady said: “Police entered his house and found the accused lying on his back in bed.
“His house phone was still connected to the 999 operator.
“He swore at the police in telling them to go away and stated, ‘I never phoned you’.
“The accused refused medical treatment and the police warned him as to his abuse of the emergency services.
“He stated, ‘I’m gonnae murder yous’.”
Defence lawyer Gerry Keenan said that Mitchell had ‘benefited’ from his time on remand because it had allowed him to detox from alcohol. 

Mr Keenan said: “The risk of repetition of these type of offences is substantially diminished.

“He tells me that in prison he has been doing a lot of soul searching.” 

The solicitor asked for his client to be placed on an alcohol treatment programme and given unpaid work, adding: “He regards his period on remand as a blessing in disguise.”

Sheriff Derek Hamilton however imposed a nine-month term of imprisonment.

The sheriff told Mitchell: “You abused the 999 service which is there for people in need and you tied it up.

“There is a financial cost to that and also a cost to others who may have been in dire need.

“You also proceeded to abuse medical workers. None of this can be tolerated.”

Sheriff Hamilton added: “These are very serious matters — emergency services workers act in a public capacity to help people and they are abused by people like you.

“This is at a time when NHS services are under significant pressure.”