'Sad' Prestatyn woman jailed for flouting order banning 999 calls

A woman prohibited from calling emergency services has been jailed after flouting a banning order just days after being released from prison for a similar offence.

The court heard Gaynor Ann Thomas’ behaviour was sparked after she was accused and later cleared of killing one of her children 18 years ago.

Caernarfon Magistrates ’ Court was told today the 54-year-old was left prison on Monday after she was jailed in March for breaching a three-year criminal behaviour order preventing her from dialling 999 and 101.

But late on Tuesday evening Thomas from Gwelfryn, Prestatyn dialled 101 and talked to North Wales Police officers about a missing door key and claimed a man was demanding money from her.

Today she admitted breaching the order, was jailed for eight weeks and ordered to pay a £115 surcharge.

Diane Williams, prosecuting, said the call lasted some 19 minutes and officers were sent to her address.

“She was found in a drunken state and initially resisted arrest and shouted at the officers,” she said.

Later, during an interview, Thomas claimed to have no recollection of making the call to police and apologised if she had dialled the number.

Miss Williams said the current order had been made in February this year after a previous anti-social behaviour order banning contact with emergency services unless for a genuine reason had been repeatedly ignored.

A few weeks later she was hauled back before a court and jailed after admitting breaching the order.

Huw Roberts, defending, said Thomas’ case was one of the saddest he had ever come across.

He told the court Thomas had three children but the death of one of them in 1999 had “pushed her over the edge”.

“She was charged with manslaughter and stood trial at Chester Crown Court.

“Although she was cleared of that charge it hit her hard and her offending began soon afterwards and is now heavily reliant on alcohol.

“She calls the emergency services because she is lonely and frightened. She looks for human contact in the wrong places. There was no need for making this phone call and she could have no complaints if she is sent back to custody today,” he said.

Peter Campbell, chairman of the bench, told Thomas: “The order was made for a reason and it is up to you to comply with it.

“You have breached it this time and we feel the custody threshold has been crossed.”