Western Daily Press
GLOUCESTERSHIRE, England — A prolific offender whose crimes skewed the new controversial police crime mapping figures was finally jailed yesterday — after making almost 1,000 hoax 999 calls.
Jackie Shields was convicted after making 514 nuisance calls to the police and 434 to the ambulance service during a six-month period.
The 45-year-old, who on one occasion falsely claimed she was being attacked at her home address, even continued with the prank while on bail for the offences.
Shields, of Gloucester, was jailed for 18 weeks yesterday after pleading guilty to seven offences under The Communications Act at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court.
After her sentence, police said her actions had been solely responsible for rocketing her area up to third place in Britain’s worst streets.
The city’s Fairfax Road, which fell under her crime area, was revealed to have had 75 anti-social behaviour incidents last December when the new scheme launched.
But police claim 64 of those were down to hoax calls from Shields.
Insp Neil Smith, from Gloucester Police, said yesterday: “Jackie Shields has potentially put people involved in genuine emergencies at risk as well.
“We’re delighted with this sentence as it sends out a strong message that making hoax calls is unacceptable.”
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