A nuisance caller who bombarded emergency services with abusive calls and threatened to blind paramedics has been jailed.

Douglas White from Dover made multiple calls to Kent Police, South East Coast Ambulance Service and other NHS services between January 10 and April 14.

During some of the calls he would remain silent, but on others, he would not let the call-taker speak and would shout abuse and threats at them.

He threw a torrent of abuse and used derogatory language toward female workers in particular.

If he did not like their responses or advice he was given, White threatened to take his own life or harm others forcing call-takers to stay on the line for his safety.

On one occasion he asked a call handler to send an officer as an emergency to read his post.

The 53-year-old was already subject to a criminal behaviour order from 2018, which banned him from phoning emergency services without a reasonable excuse.

Following an investigation, White was arrested and charged on April 19 with breaching the order, as well as five counts of calling emergency lines to convey indecent or grossly offensive messages to cause distress to the recipient.

He was also charged with one count of persistent calling and criminal damage after damaging a mattress in a police custody cell while under arrest.

White, of High Street, Dover, admitted all charges and on May 11, at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court he received a custodial sentence of a year.

He was also sentenced for two counts of assault against emergency workers relating to a separate incident in January last year.

Two paramedics attended White’s address after he called for medical attention.

He became hostile to the emergency workers, and made threats to throw boiling water and sugar to blind them, forcing them to leave for their own safety.

Sgt Chris White from the investigating team, said: “Douglas White repeatedly called up emergency services for no good reason and became abusive when offered help.

“His actions could have prevented officers from attending genuine calls for help.

“It is not the first time he has done this, and already received a criminal behaviour order, which he obviously breached by his recent activities.

“To waste the time of call-handlers is a serious issue and my officers worked hard to gather the evidence needed to stop White’s antics and bring him to court.”

South East Coast Ambulance Service security manager, Dave Monk, said: “We welcome the custodial sentence handed to this individual.

“Not only did he abuse our emergency operations centre staff and put lives at risk by needlessly tying up our phone lines, he also endangered an ambulance crew who should expect to be able to carry out their roles without facing this kind of behaviour.

“Our staff, both in our control rooms and out on the road, join the ambulance service to provide compassionate care and we will always do everything we can to ensure any individual who threatens this, verbally or physically, will be held to account for their actions.”