A pensioner from Sutton in Ashfield faces jail if he calls 999 for anything other than a genuine emergency or threat to life. Magistrates in Mansfield imposed a Criminal Behaviour Order on 67 year old Stephen Deville after hearing he made 534 calls to East Midlands Ambulance Service services in 2022.
Deville, of Willowbridge Lane in Sutton in Ashfield, also pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting emergency workers in August 2023 against a paramedic, and in December 2023 against a healthcare assistant.
The court heard that the paramedic had been responding to a call by Deville, who was heavily intoxicated. While the paramedic was attempting to treat Deville and convey him to the hospital, Deville has pushed the paramedic and resisted their help. Once he had been conveyed to Sutton’s Kings Mill Hospital, Deville has grabbed the paramedic’s arm and twisted it in a “Chinese Burn” style attack, causing bruising to the arm.
The second attack happened when Deville staying on one of the wards at Kings Mill Hospital. After being told that he would have to wait for food, Deville punched the healthcare assistant, in the chest, causing instant pain. The health worker had to leave the ward to recover.
Magistrates heard details of the 50 “worst” 999 calls made by Deville to Nottinghamshire Police, Ashfield Fire Station and East Midlands Ambulance Service between 2 January 2023 and 9 March 2023.
The East Midlands Ambulance Service produced evidence showing that during 2022, they had received 534 calls to the 999 service from Deville, at a cost to the NHS of more than £31,934.43. Evidence was also put forward that in the first 17 days of 2023, Deville made another 86 calls to the 999 service, costing the NHS a further £3,354.87.
Magistrates agreed with application for a Criminal Behaviour Order, and prohibited Deville from contacting any emergency service unless there is a genuine emergency or threat to life. The order runs for three years.
If he breaches the order, Deville can be sent to jail. Magistrates also imposed a community order requiring Deville to undergo rehabilitative activity and to pay £2000 compensation to the paramedic and £175 compensation to the healthcare worker.
“Deville and his behaviour has been concerning to many of our paramedic and firefighter colleagues, and his continued and persistent calling has diverted numerous resources from attending actual emergencies”, PC Mackenzie Norris from Sutton Neighbourhood Police Team said.
“The courts have taken the time to review the evidence brought forward thanks to our multi-agency working, and have agreed that Deville’s behaviour was anti-social and that an order was necessary to mitigate and prevent it happening more.
“The order sets out quite plainly what Deville can and cannot do, and should he make the choice to continue his anti-social behaviour and disregard the order, Deville will be brought before the courts again. “I would like to thank my colleagues at East Midlands Ambulance Service and at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service for their continued support during the investigation, and I hope that they will continue to be able to undertake their live-saving work, without being impeded frivolously.”
