A MAN has been jailed after making abusive calls to Essex Police Force contact handlers.

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

Police launched an investigation on 19 May after Ford had called the Force Control Room and verbally abused the contact handlers. Four days later, Ford called 999 again and proceeded to verbally abuse staff again. He was arrested on 30 May 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.

Supt 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 staff will be identified and held to account as this will absolutely not be tolerated."