A man was this week jailed for 20 weeks for making nuisance ’999’ calls and threatening to damage a police vehicle.

Shaun David Bignell, of Close Ollay, Ramsey, pleaded guilty to the offences and was also banned from licensed premises for 12 months.

We previously reported how, on October 29, 28-year-old Bignell made a number of ’999’ calls.

He told emergency services he needed to locked up and also used foul language during the calls, adding that if police did not attend his address he would damage a police vehicle or assault a police officer.

At 10.45pm Bignell arrived at Ramsey police station and told officers he needed to be arrested but could not provide any reason why.

When he was told that he would not be arrested as he had done nothing Bignell said to police: ’Well, I’ll just do something to get arrested. I’ll go and smash a van or assault a police officer.’

Bignell’s wish was granted as police believed his threats were serious and he was arrested and charged with making threats to damage property and making nuisance telephone calls.

Defending him in court advocate Michael Mudge said: ’The reason Mr Bignell committed the offences can be seen in the probation report which we won’t go into in too much detail in open court.

’He knows what he did was wrong and wasting police time is a serious matter. He was struggling around the time of the offences.

’Unfortunately for him he was unable to cope and wanted to get away from it all. That’s not to say he believes his actions can be condoned but there is background to it.

’He’s in a much better place now and has spoken to the mental health team while in prison. Regarding his previous convictions, he accepts he has a lengthy history though he has not been convicted of an offence since 2014.’

Mr Mudge went on to say that his client had spent five weeks in custody while on remand.

He continued: ’He was drinking due to pressures at the time. He does understand prison isn’t a hospital or a hotel. He is keen to get his life back on track.’

The court heard that Bignell had been out of work for eight years.

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said while passing sentence: ’You have a total of 12 previous convictions for causing criminal damage and two cautions for criminal damage.

’You have a long and sorry history of causing damage to other people’s property. We are dealing today with threats to cause damage, you say "idle threats", but you very much intended those threats to be taken seriously. The offence is also aggravated by your intoxication. You described yourself as being "hammered".

’I am satisfied the custody threshold has been passed and can find no grounds to suspend the sentence.’