Amy Beth Dallamura sparked four alerts in five days, the court heard

Amy Beth Dallamura, 44, of Aberystwyth, staged more than 50 "cries for help" by throwing herself in the sea.

She was given an Asbo banning her from entering the water but at Swansea Crown Court admitted breaching it by sparking four alerts in five days in June.

The case was adjourned for reports and the ex-golf professional was bailed.

A condition of her bail, to an address in Sussex, was that she stays at least 50 metres (164ft) from the sea around Britain's coast.

Adjourning the case for reports, Judge Keith Thomas said: "I'm looking to help this lady not punish her."

Ms Dallamura, of North Parade, Aberystwyth, had suffered a fractured spine after being thrown off a horse as a child and it went undetected for many years.

If her problems could be addressed the emergency services would not be put under pressure and strain

Peter Wigan, defending

She has undergone several unsuccessful operations and says she is "wracked with pain".

At an earlier hearing, Chris James, prosecuting, said: "She is playing an elaborate game of cat and mouse with police.

"There are clear examples of her telling people what she is doing.

"Jumping into the sea from the pier and hanging off the jetty to give the impression of suicide is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress."

Peter Wigan, defending, said Ms Dallamura had a physical complaint which meant she suffered constant pain and limited mobility in her back and hips.

He said: "It had started after she had surgery which had only made the complaint worse and was driving her to suicide.

"If her problems could be addressed the emergency services would not be put under pressure and strain."

Coastguard chiefs concede that the number of call-outs are probably a "cry for help".

They fear she could put other lives at risk if emergency services are tied up with her leaping from a pier or dangling from a jetty.

The court heard the number of call-outs for which she was responsible had collectively cost the emergency services up to £1m.

Coastguards explained how Ms Dallamura needed to be rescued four times in five days less in June.

Police stopped her going into the sea on 21 June but later that day she was winched from a cliff face after trying again.

Two days later she had to be airlifted to hospital after being pulled out of the sea. Finally, on 25 June she phoned police threatening to kill herself in the sea.

Two lifeboat crews, police and a rescue helicopter searched for her and she was found on rocks suffering from hypothermia.

'So relieved'

Speaking after the case, Ms Dallamura said: "I'm so relieved I had a sympathetic judge who is trying to help me.

"When I went to court I thought my number was up but the judge realised I haven't harmed anyone I just need help."

She had taught young golf players in New Hampshire, America from 1994 but had to give up due to her back injury,