Shropshire pensioner breaches ASBO by making abusive calls to emergency services

David Watson told officers they were "thugs" and "idiots" as they took him to hospital for a mental health assessment, magistrates heard.

Watson, 69, admitted being in breach of a two-year ASBO which prevents him from making non-emergency calls to the emergency services and being verbally or physically abusive to staff.

Mrs Abigail Hall, prosecuting at Telford Magistrates Court, said police had originally been called to Watson's address in Church Stretton on July 10 by staff at the Aquarius drink and drug counselling service after he had threatened to take his own life.

When they arrived Watson told officers that he wanted to "die in his own home" at which point they detained him under the Mental Health Act.

Mrs Hall said that Watson had continued to be abusive to staff while being assessed at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

He was eventually discharged and the following day rang the 101 number to make a complaint but began abusing the officer who returned the call.

On July 12 he again rang the 101 line several times and was described as being "inebriated" and slurring his words.

Watson, of Watling Street North in Church Stretton, was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £180 court charges, a £55 victim surcharge and prosecution costs of £85.

Mr Paul Nicholas, for Watson, said the defendant was "a desperately lonely, intelligent man, who has fallen on hard times".

Magistrates heard that Watson had not contacted 999, but had used the 101 number and said that the emergency services had not been put out by the calls.