Black Isle woman jailed for making nuisance 999 calls back behind bars after reoffending
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A woman has told police she does not know why she repeatedly makes nuisance calls to them.
Elizabeth Gibson (22) has spent more time in custody than at liberty since 2015 because she continues to make the nuisance calls to police.
She has 22 previous convictions for the same offence.
Previously Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald put her on supervision, but warned her she would go back to jail if she began making the calls again.
Today she appeared from custody at Inverness Sheriff Court and admitted again making nuisance calls to the police control room in Dundee through the 999 service between October 11 and October 22.
Solicitor Ken Ferguson said notwithstanding recent background reports being available he was asking for another report because Gibson was now receiving psychiatric assessments.
The last report on Gibson, he said, detailed how her behaviour had become entrenched and a multi-agency approach was needed to help stop her offending.
He said Gibson was now beginning to send messages to helplines seeking assistance before contacting police, which was a change in her usual pattern.
Since her second offence in November 2015 he said she had spent only days at liberty.
Depute fiscal Susan Love said Gibson, who appeared from custody and admitted making the calls between October 11 and 22, was traced at John Ogilvie House in Alness and when asked why she kept phoning the police her reply was: "I just can't help myself".
The fiscal said two calls were received on October 11 but this increased to five calls on the day of her arrest.
Mr Ferguson said custody may be a backward step as she was now in contact with voluntary organisations who could help her.
Sheriff Margaret Neilson deferred sentence for updated reports but given Gibson's record and further offending she was not prepared to grant bail.
Sentence was deferred until November 13.
