A MAN has been jailed after he admitted making nuisance calls to the police while he was “feeling low”.

Malcolm Roy Edwards, of Heathmoor, 2 Station Road, Newcastle Emlyn, pleaded guilty to sending a false message to cause annoyance or inconvenience, with magistrates hearing that he had made four 999 calls on 18 July claiming that he was going to kill himself.

Edwards, who appeared in court via videolink after being remanded in custody when he pleaded guilty to the charge, was jailed for eight weeks meaning he will be released shortly after spending three weeks in custody on remand.

Magistrates heard that Edwards desperately needs help from the probation service to address alcohol and mental health issues.

Prosecutor Kevin Challinor said Edwards, 48, has 13 convictions for making nuisance 999 calls in 2016 and 2017 and said that Edwards had made four calls to the police on 18 July when he was drunk and told officers he was “feeling low”.

Mr Challinor said officers found Edwards in the Vale of Rheidol pub in Aberystwyth shortly after he made the first call and asked if he wished to speak to the crisis team, but Edwards said he just wanted to go home.

He was warned about calling 999 and officers advised him to get the bus home.

However, Mr Challinor said Edwards then made two more calls, with Edwards first telling the call handler that he was feeling low after a break up, and in the second call saying that he had “had enough of living”.

That call prompted officers to search for Edwards before finding him. Mr Challinor said Edwards was again told not to call 999 unless it was an emergency, but he made another call shortly after 11pm.

He was found by officers in Finch Square in Cardigan and was drunk.

Mr Challinor said Edwards was arrested because of the number of calls he had made.

A probation report said Edwards had said he wanted to be arrested so he could be taken to hospital and get help, but magistrates heard that Edwards accepted that he has been offered help by emergency services and refused it.

Defence solicitor Alan Lewis said Edwards needed help to address his mental health and alcohol issues and said that his spell in prison on remand for the offence had “galvanised” Edwards’ mind.

He said Edwards had struggled whilst in prison and accepted he needs to address his alcohol issues in particular.

Mr Lewis said Edwards admitted that he had made regular calls to the police when he was feeling down, especially if he had been drinking, but said: “He doesn’t want to ring the police”.

Mr Lewis said that if Edwards was given a short prison sentence that would ensure he was supervised by the probation service following his release. Magistrates imposed the eight-week prison sentence, which will mean Edwards is released shortly because of the time he has spent on remand. As part of his post-sentence supervision he will receive help for mental health and alcohol issues.

He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £115.