A REPEAT offender appeared at Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Aug 3), facing three offences that date back to May.
Malcom Roy Edwards, 47, of Station Road in Newcastle Emlyn, appeared before the court to change his plea from not guilty to guilty to the original offence of persistently calling 999 needlessly, with a purpose of causing annoyance. At the time, he made the call explaining he needed help but then retracted his statement, saying that he did not need the assistance of emergency services after all.
Edwards also faced charges of failing to surrender to custody at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on June 29, having been granted bail by the court on June 24.
Edwards also faced an additional charge of failing to surrender again to Llanelli Magistrates’ Court at a reasonably practical time after being released on bail on June 24.
Edwards appeared at Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court on July 29 for all three offences but Magistrates adjourned until Wednesday (Aug 3).
Defending, Alun Lewis told the court that this is a very difficult and sad case, and that Edwards is someone who has significant mental health problems.
Since losing his job, a job he has had for the majority of his life, he has spiralled downwards.
The defendant has recently become a part of IOM team as part of his current community order and has also recently been diagnosed with a personality disorder.
Because of this, Mr Lewis stated that Edwards is reluctant to work with mental health services due to being afraid of being ‘labelled’.
Edwards has also admitted that that during his first two nights at Swansea Prison, he did not sleep a wink and hated his time there.
Mr Lewis concluded by telling the court that prison life will affect Edwards for the rest of his life, and that Edwards has accepted that he has caused a huge inconvenience for the emergency services.
Magistrates told Edwards that making false calls is not something that is tolerated by society.
Magistrates imposed a 12 month community order on Edwards which include nine months of a required alcohol programme. The defendant was also ordered to pay a total of £235 in fines and court costs.
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