Woman called 999 and police 101 number almost 100 times to chat about Putin, Trump and personal matters, Craigavon court hears
A 43-year-old mother called 999 and 101 to talk about Putin, Trump and personal matters, a court has heard.
Appearing before Craigavon Magistrates Court on Friday, the woman pleaded guilty to two charges, including wasteful employment of police time and improper use of the public communications network.
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A prosecutor said the defendant, Kahlilah Sitler, from Coronation Street, Portadown appears to have mental health issues and is “constantly making reports to police about matters that have absolutely no relevance to police”.
She revealed that from November 1 last year to January 31 this year there were 31 calls to the 999 system and 69 calls to the 101 system.
"They included talking about Putin, Trump, talking about things to do with her own private life but not things that should be reported to police,” said the prosecutor.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said he had read the pre-sentence report which said alcohol was an issue and she had previously completed Community Service but Probation was revoked and said they would not accept any more community disposals.
He also noted she is in breach of a suspended sentence for a similar offence.
“So the question is, how do we stop this lady wasting police time?” he said.
Sitler’s barrister, Mr Conor Lunny, described it as “an impossible question for me to answer”.
Mr Lunny said there is treatment for his client but he wasn’t sure if she “engages fully”.
“If you are at all minded not to activate that suspended sentence, it would be incumbent on Ms Sitler to engage more.
“She’s from Namibia originally, a very bright lady. She came to this jurisdiction and that relationship broke up.
"She finds it very difficult to accept that. She finds it impossible to accept that she can’t see her children who have been residing with that man. She is isolated in the community. She has no real other support structure,” said Mr Lunny, adding the defendant finally availed of new accommodation in recent months which offers a period of stability.
The barrister suggested that due to her mental health issues, the defendant wouldn’t be suited to jail.
"But I know you have to protect the public and keep resources. If police are calling out to listen to this lady talk about things that are completely irrelevant and much short of a criminal complaint, that’s something the court has to weigh up. But I am asking the court to show some compassion,” he said.
He suggested a deferral of the sentence which would “require a leap of faith” from the court that she won’t engage in this behaviour again.
District Judge Ranaghan referred to the defendant crying in court saying it “appears genuine”.
He said there were some things which “need fixed” before she could start to have a relationship with her children whom she hasn’t seen in six years.
He deferred sentence for six months with the condition the defendant engages with her GP and mental health services and has no offending of any kind. The case case adjourned until December 4. He said if she didn’t comply with the deferral conditions he would activate the five-month suspended sentence in full and double it.
"If you breach those deferral conditions, rest assured you will face a term of imprisonment of 10 months,” he said.