Ross-shire woman back behind bars after further nuisance 999 calls; bail was refused at Inverness Sheriff Court while she awaits sentence
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A NUISANCE 999 caller who has plagued emergency services with fake calls is back behind bars, awaiting sentence after committing another offence.
Elizabeth Gibson (22), formerly of Fortrose but now living at John Ogilivie House in Alness, has spent more time in custody than she has at liberty since 2015 because of her repeated nuisance calls to police.
Earlier this month Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald heard Gibson had 22 previous convictions for the same offence and she had been in and out of jail but it was not helping her.
The sheriff put her on supervision but warned her she would go back to jail if she began making the calls again.
But on Wednesday she appeared from custody at Inverness Sheriff Court and admitted once again making nuisance 999 calls to the police between October 11 and October 22.
Depute fiscal Susan Love said her last conviction was on October 3.
Ken Ferguson, solicitor, said he was asking for an updated background report because Gibson was now receiving psychiatric assessments.
He said the last report on Gibson set out the alarming situation where 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.
