AN ALCOHOLIC Templeton pensioner has been jailed again for making nuisance calls to the emergency services.

Ann Gateley, 70, of Chapel Hill Lane, pleaded guilty to using a communications network to cause annoyance or needless anxiety when she appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates court on Monday morning.

The court heard that Gateley made numerous calls to the 999 and 101 systems on January 21, and had committed numerous similar offences in the past.

Sian Vaughan, prosecuting, told magistrates: “Eleven calls were made in total from 9.20am until 4pm.

"The nature of the calls was that someone had taken money from her handbag and people were banging on her door.

“She has a history of similar offences going back for some considerable time.”

Jonathan Webb, defending, said Gateley had a history of alcohol problems which led to these offences being committed, and she was seeking help for her issues.

He said: “She is telephoning the police and making complaints that there are people trying to get into her house, and that people are after her.

“When she drinks, she gets this impulse, but does not know why.”

Mr Webb added that Gateley had served 18 weeks in custody for a previous similar offence and was released just before Christmas.

Her husband died while she was in custody.

Probation officer Julie Norman told the bench that Gateley had been offered help with her alcoholism, but had not cooperated with the service.

Magistrates sentenced her to 16 weeks in prison and ordered her to pay £85 court costs and a £115 surcharge.

The chairman of the bench said: “So many things have been done to try and help you, but you do not want the help. You can’t keep doing this.”