AN Accrington woman who repeatedly made bogus calls to the police and ambulance services has been banned from ringing 999 unless in a genuine emergency.

Blackburn magistrates heard Pauline Green, 52, had made 72 emergency calls and only one of them had been a genuine allegation of assault.

They imposed an anti-social behaviour order which means Green will face up to two years in jail if she continues to waste the time of the emergency services.

Tom Snape, prosecuting, said the police requested the ASBO following the latest wasteful deployment of police and paramedics. Green had called the police and reported that she had been assaulted by her partner and two officers attended to investigate.

There was no substance to the allegation and the officers left. Less than two hours later she made another emergency call and this time police and paramedics attended.

“Five police officers and two paramedics went to her house on that afternoon for no good reason,” said Mr Snape.

“In the past she has made 72 calls to the police and only one of them seems to have been a genuine allegation of assault,” said Mr Snape.

Gareth Price, defending, said his client had been diagnosed as having a brain tumour and it seemed that every time she had the slightest headache she picked up the phone and dialled 999. “She understands that if, in the next two years, she picks up the phone and dials 999 for no good reason she risks going to prison,” said Mr Price.

Green pleaded guilty to persistently making use of a public communications network to cause annoyance, inconvenience or anxiety.

She was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and made subject to the ASBO for two years.