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Hoaxer Who Called 999 Over 200 Times Said She Was 'Bored'

Hoaxer Who Called 999 Over 200 Times Said She Was 'Bored'

One of her false calls led to a one minute eight second delay for a child in cardiac arrest

Rebecca Shepherd

Rebecca Shepherd

This is the moment a nuisance 999 caller who phoned 200 times in just over two weeks said she was ringing 'because I'm bored and I don't give a shit about anyone else':

Victoria Cross, 22, made the fake calls between Christmas and New Year, and patient call handlers were forced to take her seriously.

One of Cross's false calls led to a one minute eight second delay for a child in cardiac arrest.

When she realised her number had been blocked by the emergency services, she bought different sim cards for her mobile phone so that she could continue to make 999 calls.

PA

In a shocking audio clip from one of her calls, she can be heard saying: "I'm ringing because I'm bored and I don't give a shit about anyone else. I just care about myself."

Cross - who even laughs on the call at one stage - admitted that she didn't need an ambulance, and said: "I'm ringing because I'm bored, okay."

Cross was sentenced at Leicester Magistrates' Court earlier last week and was ordered to pay £165 ($215) in fines and she was given a conditional discharge for 18 months.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn during a visit to a training facility at East Midlands Ambulance Service HQ.
PA

Her calls were dealt with by East Midlands Ambulance Service, who also took action against another hoaxer.

Thomas Exhall, from Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire, rang for an ambulance 344 times between 1 December 2017 and 29 April 2018.

His actions cost the NHS a total of £24,883 ($32,500) and staff said he was often verbally abusive.

Exhall denied both making the calls and his abusive behaviour at Mansfield Magistrates' Court on January 14, but was found guilty and given a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £400 in compensation.

Deborah Powell, frequent caller lead for East Midlands Ambulance Service, said: "We are pleased that we have had two successful prosecutions after a lot of hard work.

"We would urge people again to make the right 999 call and only phone us in a life-threatening emergency.

"Our staff come to work to save lives and help people, not to be abused. We will continue to work with police to prosecute those who misuse our service to ensure that the support is there for those who need it in a real medical emergency."

Featured Image Credit: PA/SWNS

Topics: UK News, News, crime, UK