Victor Glenn Ross, 58, of Alfred Street, appeared before visiting magistrate Brian Van Zuylen last Monday where he was sentenced to 10 months' jail to be served in the community by way of an Intensive Corrections Order.

Barrister Frances Lalic told Mr Van Zuylen her client was "a chronic alcoholic" who had sought the assistance of the MERIT program and had reduced his alcohol intake.

Police facts tendered to the court told how between January 29 and 30, 2020, Ross had made 18 calls to a emergency services.

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Antecedents given to the court told how the accused had been charged with this offence six times before and has had numerous warnings. He is well aware it is an offence to contact emergency services when it is not an emergency.

The facts said that since January 6, 2020 the accused has made no less than 18 calls to the emergency services line requesting police to attend. At the time of these calls the triple-0 operator noted the accused was intoxicated and incoherent.

At 10.22pm on January 29, Ross contacted triple-0 claiming his neighbours were threatening to kill him.

At 10.48pm, Ross called again, asking when police would arrive and continuing to ramble. Police attended the address of the accused and after opening the door could smell intoxicating liquor.

When Ross spoke he was incoherent and inaudible and it was obvious to police that he was highly intoxicated. Police told him the house he was pointing to was in total darkness, as were the other houses in the street.

Police told the accused this was not an emergency situation and directed him to go back inside and shut the door. They warned him that nay further contact made to the triple-0 line other than in an actual emergency could result in him being charged.

But at 11.47pm he contacted triple-0 again saying his neighbour was trying to kill him. In January he contacted triple-0 another four times but none of the calls was made in an actual emergency.

In sentencing, Mr Van Zuylen said Ross was wasting "valuable community resources" and the "real catastrophe" would be if someone, in a genuine emergency, "couldn't get through because he was taking up time with vexatious calls".

Ross was sentences to an Intensive Corrections Order for 10 months. He was also ordered not to contact emergency services unless for a genuine emergency and to abstain from drugs and alcohol.

Ross lodged a severity appeal, which is marked for call over on October 2 in the District Court.