A MAN has has been jailed for making abusive calls to police contact handlers. 

Terry Ford, 36 of no fixed address, appeared at Basildon Magistrates court on Friday, July 29 where he was sentenced to eight weeks in prison after pleading guilty to malicious communications offences.

Essex Police launched an investigation on May 19 after Ford had called the Force Control Room and verbally abused contact handlers.

Four days later, Ford called 999 again and proceeded to verbally abuse staff again. 

He was arrested on May 30 on suspicion of two counts of malicious communications. 

Ford was charged and after pleading guilty to both offences, was sentenced to eight weeks in prison. 

Superintendent Darren Deex said “Those who work in our Force Control Room are managing thousands of calls daily and particularly at the moment the role is extremely demanding.

“Those who choose to call 999 or 101 and abuse our Contact Management staff will be identified and held to account as this will absolutely not be tolerated.”