A 54-year-old woman from Swindon who was drunk and abusive to 999 call handlers appeared in Swindon Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Donna Harper from Chantry Road pleaded guilty to a charge of sending an offensive or indecent or obscene message by public communication.

Prosecutor Pauline Lambert explained the details of the incident.

Ms Lambert said: “On July 25, Miss Harper was at home drinking vodka and called 999 to report a historic issue with a former partner.

“She was verbally abusive to six call handlers, calling one a ‘dirty f**king b*tch’ and called 14 times.

“Police went to her home and found her shouting at the top of her lungs and swigging from a half-empty bottle of vodka.”

Harper told officers that she wanted to go back to Sandalwood Court and they advised her to get some sleep and call Sandalwood in the morning, then warned her about the abusive calls she had made.

After they left, she continued to call 999 and was put into custody, where she claimed that the calls had been a cry for help and explained that she’d called 999 because she didn’t have any credit on her phone to call 101.

Ms Lambert added: “She has a history of alcohol and mental health issues.

“She said she was very sorry and ashamed, she said she had not been that drunk for years.”

Her defence solicitor Terry McCarthy explained what had pushed Harper to breaking point that night.

Mr McCarthy said: “It seems that she stopped taking her medication as it was making her very drowsy.

“She had just moved to a new flat and her neighbour was not as welcoming as perhaps he could have been.

“Her ex has visited several times and his behaviour has caused the police to be called, he wants to get her evicted.

“Everything got on top of her that evening and she wanted to report a historic assault.”

She is now back on her medication.

Probation officer Andy Pearson suggested that she receive a 12-month community order with 10 rehab activity days and an alcohol treatment requirement.

Chairman of the bench Christine Smith agreed with Mr Pearson and also ordered Harper to pay £35 in costs and £35 to victims’ services.

The money will be deducted from her benefits.