A man from Potters Bar has been given a suspended sentence after he pleaded guility to abusing 999 call handlers.

John Chance, 56, of Manor Road, was was given an 18-week, and a 24-week, suspended jail sentence while also being ordered to pay a total of £300 compensation for malicious communications, after appearing in court on Thursday.

St Albans Magistrates' Court that on June 7 last year, Chance called Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Force Communications Room to report anti-social behaviour, but as the call went on, he became abusive, using obscene and offensive language.

A second call to the FCR, in which the 56-year-old spoke to a different handler, he again became abusive.

"Our hard-working, dedicated FCR call handlers are at the end of the phone line, and web chat, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to help the public in their hour of need," said FCR chief inspector Steve Alison.

"They answer 999 calls assisting those who may be in a life-threatening situation or when a crime is being carried out and responding to 101 non-emergency incidents.

"Our call handlers are well used to dealing with members of the public who are extremely distressed or in need of urgent help. But even by the standards of challenging calls we receive, Chance’s language was utterly shocking and completely unjustified.

"For members of our fantastic staff to be verbally abused is wholly unacceptable and it will not be tolerated, so we welcome this prosecution.

"Our colleagues’ wellbeing is of the utmost importance and they have been fully supported throughout."