A man who burped down the phone line on dozens of 999 calls because he was bored has been jailed for 24 weeks.

Rhys Pilott, from Peterborough, previously admitted causing a public nuisance and using a public communication network to cause annoyance, inconvenience or anxiety.

The 28-year-old sat with folded arms as he appeared by video-link for his sentencing at Peterborough Magistrates' Court.

Prosecutor Anthea Harris said Pilott had made 13 nuisance calls on 24 September, and 19 more three days later.

She said the calls were "easily distinguished" as being made by the defendant as he was "audibly belching down the phone line".


Ms Harris added: "When he was arrested, he continued to belch. He said to police 'if you're bored, prank call the police. It's fun'."

"While he's on the phone, other genuine calls can't be taken."

Pilott's lawer, Michelle Canagsuriam, said his offending was not "malicious or callous" and that he has learning difficulties.

She said the calls were made "partly due to boredom" and that a psychologist believes it is about "empowerment and importance".

Ms Canagsurium continued: "It was a need to be a someone who could make things happen, when all of his life history suggests he couldn't achieve this."

District Judge Ken Sheraton said the defendant "knows what he's doing".

Sentencing Pilott, he told him: "Whatever the reason for this persistent ringing of the emergency services, you've got to realise that you're creating all sorts of difficulties for the emergency services and inevitably for yourself because you end up going to prison.

"I understand fully that you've got some problems but it's also clear that you know what you're doing and you're doing this out of boredom.

"You've got to find some other way of managing your time or prison sentences will get longer and longer."

Pilott also admitted to two further offences during Thursday's hearing - both relating to an incident on 10 September where he stripped naked in public and swore at police.

His total sentence for all of the offences is 24 weeks in prison.

Pilott also has 12 previous convictions for "similar type of offending", including three bomb hoaxes, the court heard.