Called emergency services for '˜someone to talk to'

Philip John Hargey (29), of Kintyre Road, appeared at Ballymena Magistrates Court on June 22 and also admitted assaulting and resisting a police officer.

A prosecutor said on one night the defendant phoned 999 on 13 occasions and police attended his home on four occasions.

On another occasion the defendant phoned the Ambulance Service seven times which included him being verbally abusive to operators.

Defence barrister Neil Moore said Hargey lives alone and when he drinks it leads to “wild and crazy thoughts”. He said the defendant told police he made calls because he “wanted somebody to talk to”.

Mr Moore said his client wished to apologise for his actions and is now addressing his “issues”.

District Judge Peter King said it was a “sad case”.

He said he would defer sentencing until September and the defendant could expect a suspended sentence but if there were further offences “quite frankly, all options remain open”.