83-year-old time-waster accused of being Wales’s worst 999 pest has been jailed

Attention-seeking Raymond Owen, of Caernarfon Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, a former railway electrician, had received a community protection notice from police after 700 calls in ten months on the emergency system.

Last week he got a 90-day suspended jail term and criminal behaviour order which he has now admitted breaching within days by dialling 999.

James Neary, prosecuting, said the pensioner had been a drain on the NHS, costing more than £40,000. Between September 20 and October 1 there were 166 calls.

“The time they are taking up dealing with him with his false calls is time lost to genuine emergencies.

Sick people can’t get through and get the attention they deserve because of him,”

Mr Neary said. “Since the suspended sentence was imposed, on October 26 he breached the order by ringing 999 on three separate occasions.

None of these calls was life-threatening. On October 27 he contacted the ambulance service. Five times on October 29 he contacted them.”

Owen’s past “problems” had included getting out of bed and a sore back.

Huw Roberts, defending, told Llandudno magistrates Owen started ringing 999 after parting from his wife of 60 years and family members distancing themselves from him. Until last month he hadn’t any convictions.

“He presents as a confused, vulnerable and upset gentleman,” the solicitor said.

Court chairwoman Manu Patiar told Owen :”By persistently ringing the emergency services you are depriving the other people who need to use them.”

She added :”You were given a 90 days suspended sentence. We have no choice but to activate it.” Eight weeks were imposed for the breach.

Last week another defence solicitor said Owen’s wife had been removed from the home on welfare grounds and the calls started.

He’d been discharged from his GP’s surgery because of his conduct.

Owen had been examined mentally and psychologically. “It’s just behavioural,” the lawyer said