A WOMAN who harassed police with unnecessary calls has been given a chance to deal with her alcohol problem.

Susan Elizabeth Cooper, 53, pleaded guilty to breaching her criminal anti-social behaviour order (Crasbo) by calling North Yorkshire Police's non-emergency number unnecessarily.

Sam Rogers, prosecuting, said she made two calls on September 12 at 11am and 1pm and was abusive to those dealing with the calls. She was arrested at her home later that day for breaching her Crasbo.

During a police interview Cooper said she could not remember the incident because she was drunk.

Rob Hutchinson, mitigating, said Cooper's criminal record showed little until 1998 when she was convicted of a drink-related offence.

But after her husband left in 2005 her appearances before Northallerton magistrates became more frequent.

In October last year, she was convicted of being drunk and disorderly in Bedale Market Place and in April this year she was convicted of being drunk and incapable in Leyburn Road, Bedale.

On May 8 she was convicted of being drunk and disorderly at Northallerton police station then on May 28 she was convicted of criminal damage. On June 5 she was convicted of being drunk and disorderly at Emgate, Bedale. For the last two offences she was given six-month conditional discharges.

In August, Cooper was convicted for making persistent 999 calls between February 3 and July 8. She was fined £500 and given a two-year Crasbo. During the period she made 155 calls.

Mr Hutchinson said Cooper did not adhere to her Crasbo because no provision was made for the alcoholism at the root of her behaviour.

He said: "She is at risk of losing everything and possibly drinking herself to death if she doesn't change her ways."

Chairman of the bench Ian Robson asked probation officer John Bell whether a six-month supervision order would be long enough for Cooper to sort herself out.

Mr Bell said: "My understanding is that the rest of her life may not be enough. Once you are an alcoholic you are an alcoholic forever."

Cooper, from St Edmunds, The Green, Crakehall, Bedale, was given a 12-month supervision order with the Probation Service and ordered to undertake one-to-one counselling for her alcoholism. She received no penalty for breaching her Crasbo or conditional discharges, but was told to pay £45 costs.