A Ballymena man has been given a four-month suspended prison sentence and a five-year anti-social behaviour order for persistently misusing the 999 system.

Gary Bailey (34) of Ballymoney Road appeared at Ballymena Magistrates Court charged with making nuisance calls to the Ambulance Service and police between December 2023 and April 2025. The court heard that between November 2021 and November 2024, he made 119 calls to 999 and 101.

After signing an Acceptable Behaviour Contract in December 2023, committing to only contact emergency services in genuine need, Bailey made a further 65 calls, the prosecutor said. On many occasions, when paramedics arrived, he refused to travel to hospital.

District Judge Nigel Broderick described the offending as serious, noting that every ambulance dispatched to Bailey was unavailable for someone with a genuine need. He concluded the calls were, at minimum, a nuisance.

Bailey's barrister told the court that the defendant has health conditions.

The suspended sentence is for three years. The ASBO, also lasting five years, does not prevent Bailey from calling 999 in an emergency but requires that he not cause harassment, alarm or distress, and prohibits the use of threatening or offensive language.

An additional file relating to further offending is expected before the court.