A nuisance caller who rang 999 more than 1,800 times has been jailed.

Stacey White’s inappropriate calls cost the NHS more than £30,000 in the last financial year.

She was handed a 26-week prison sentence at Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to persistently making use of a public communications network to cause annoyance, inconvenience and anxiety.

This is one of the 1,868 abusive 999 calls made to EMAS by one woman. She is now serving 6 months in prison: https://t.co/OhDSkRQELI — EMAS NHS Trust (@EMASNHSTrust) July 11, 2017

White, from Heanor, in Derbyshire, was given a 20-week suspended sentence in 2014 for misusing the emergency line and assaulting a paramedic.

East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) said she has rung 999 1,868 times since 2011, dialing the number 498 times between March 2016 and April 2017.

Deborah Powell, frequent caller lead for EMAS, said her actions had cost the service £30,936 in the last financial year.

(Peter Byrne/PA)

“By repeatedly making inappropriate calls to the 999 service, Ms White demonstrated flagrant disregard for others experiencing life-threatening emergencies who genuinely need our help,” she said.

“Our emergency call handlers are there to provide life-saving advice over the phone and do not expect to be abused when they come to work.

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