A woman who repeatedly called the emergency services with nuisance calls has been sent to prison.

Jennifer Ramsay, of Sybil Street, Carlisle, admitted two charges of malicious communications when she appeared at the magistrates' court in Carlisle yesterday.

The charges relate to 999 calls she made on Sunday and Monday, after which she was arrested.

Police said it was the third time she had been arrested on suspicion of malicious communications in the last week. The force said she made more than 70 calls to the police over the past three months and 30 calls to the North West Ambulance Service in six days.

The 40-year-old, who suffers with mental health issues, told call handlers she wanted to take her own life.

The court heard how shortly after she was released by police on Sunday, she called the emergency services again making the same claim.

Prosecutor John Moran said police attended but there was no sign of that intention.

In July this year she also called the emergency services threatening to burn her house down. She received a 60 day prison sentence.

John Smith, for Ramsay, said his client had wished to go to prison that time.

"She feels she is not properly served by her mental health team. She said to police until she received more help she would feel suicidal," he said. "There are a number of agencies in place but she says she has been told in some cases not to contact them.

"She has little choice in her perception but to phone 999. From her perception she needs that help and is not being given that help."

Sergeant Scott Adams said: “These types of calls, which are presented as genuine emergencies by Ramsay but are patently not, are an incredible drain on the resources of ourselves and our emergency services colleagues.

“Whenever our officers are tied up with yet another nuisance call from Ramsay, it means they are prevented from helping people in a genuine emergency – with the potential for tragic consequences.

“The decision to charge with the offence and put Ramsay before the courts was not taken lightly. We have worked closely with other agencies in coming to this decision and given Ramsay every opportunity to change her behaviour, including her signing an Acceptable Behaviour Contract. However, these measures have not worked and there has been no option left available but to put Ramsay before the courts.”

District Judge Gerald Chalk said they were serious offences directed at limited NHS resources and sent her to prison for a 80 days - 30 days for the first offence and 50 days for the calls made the following day.

If Ramsay commits further offences upon her release, a Criminal Behaviour Order may be sought. Breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order could result in imprisonment for up to five years.