A MAN breached the terms of his anti-social behaviour order (Asbo) by making nuisance 999 calls, a court heard.

Drunken Mervyn Whitwell rang police by calling 999 and became abusive to the operator.

The next day, a 999 call by Whitwell, in which he was incoherent, mumbling and "unpleasant" was traced to Easingwold, near York.

Teesside Crown Court heard that when arrested by officers, he was drunk, became aggressive and threatened to kill them.

Last July, magistrates in Northallerton imposed an Asbo on Whitwell, 56, of Long Street, Easingwold, which barred him from making nuisance 999 calls. He had previously been jailed for eight months for similar offences.

Johnny Walker, prosecuting, said Whitwell had a history of making such calls and had, on a number of occasions, threatened to kill himself while doing so.

The father-of-two, who previously ran a business, was said to have "gone off the rails" in the past five years, having previously been of good character.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of misusing the 999 system on March 16 and 17, and a further charge of being drunk and disorderly.

The judge, Recorder Bryan Cox, told him: "In drink, you are a real concern.

"Making 999 calls in this manner cannot be tolerated because of the inconvenience and problems with the operation of the system it causes."

He said he felt Whitwell had not previously been given the opportunity to receive intensive help. Bailing Whitwell, he said he was willing to give him a chance by adjourning sentence for a month to see if he could stay off drink and change his behaviour.