A Swindon woman who repeatedly called the ambulance service over a five-day period, triggering multiple highest-priority emergency responses, has been sentenced and handed a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order.
Jennefer Sculley, 44, of Ferndale Road, appeared before Swindon Magistrates’ Court after making 24 calls to the South Western Ambulance Service between 16 and 21 July.
Wiltshire Police said the calls related to a variety of medical complaints. Seven were graded as Category 1 incidents – the highest priority reserved for immediately life-threatening emergencies – requiring an urgent ambulance response.
However, when paramedics attended, Sculley was found not to require medical treatment. Police said she would then make another 999 call shortly after the ambulance crew had left, prompting a further emergency response.
Officers arrested Sculley on 21 July. During the arrest, she assaulted two police officers.
Appearing before magistrates the following day, she pleaded guilty to persistently using a public communications network to cause annoyance, inconvenience or anxiety, as well as two counts of assaulting a constable in the execution of their duty.
As part of her sentence, the court imposed a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order.
Under the order, Sculley must not call 999 unless there is a genuine emergency, contact 101 except to report a crime, or call 111 unless she requires genuine medical advice.
She is also prohibited from asking members of the public to contact the emergency services on her behalf unless there is a genuine emergency, engaging in anti-social behaviour that causes harassment, alarm or distress, or behaving in a hostile or antagonistic manner towards emergency service personnel, whether in person or through electronic communication.
Neighbourhood Inspector Loz Copeland said the repeated calls had placed unnecessary pressure on emergency services.
“Sculley’s repeated calls to the ambulance service would have prevented others from receiving urgent treatment and triage, putting lives in danger.
“I hope this order will serve to curtail Sculley’s behaviour and ease the strain on the emergency services so they can better serve the public who are in genuine need of an urgent response.”
Wiltshire Police said the case highlights the importance of using emergency services responsibly, ensuring that ambulance crews and call handlers remain available for people facing genuine medical emergencies.
