A BARRAGE of threats was made to 999 operators by a man under the influence of alcohol, a court has heard.

Gerald Morgan, 60, called the emergency services 15 times between July 5 and July 7, and repeatedly insulted the call handlers.

Charles Judge, prosecuting, said Morgan also made threats to kill himself and told operators he wanted to be in Colchester custody because “he didn’t feel well”.

The calls continued over the three-day period, with Morgan dialling 999 in the middle of the night.

Ipswich Crown Court, which was sitting at the magistrates’ court in Colchester on Thursday, heard Morgan said he was going to carry out a drugs bust and needed the police to help him.

Police responded to Morgan’s behaviour by attending his address in Queen Anne Drive, West Mersea, on Sunday, July 7.

When officers arrived and arrested Morgan on suspicion of breaching a criminal behaviour order, he continued to be “extremely abusive” and was then arrested on suspicion of a public order offence.

Morgan later admitted one charge of persistently making use of public communication network to cause annoyance, and one charge of breaching a criminal behaviour order.

He will be sentenced before Judge Richard Kelly next Friday.