A notorious Carlisle nuisance offered a chance to mend his ways has been jailed after making numerous abusive 999 calls.

Andrew Bell, 40, was handed a prison sentence at the city’s crown court on April 16, when he was sentenced following a series of anti-social behaviour which meant he had breached a previous court punishment.

Heavily-convicted Bell had caused “significant distress” to members of the public, including a receptionist at Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary.

That jail term was suspended on the understanding that Bell – said to suffer from a personality disorder – would address his issues while residing under curfew at a “reachout ministry”.

But prosecutor Kim Whittlestone told Judge James Adkin on Friday that, following his release from custody, Bell “never attended” that north east base.

Then, on April 22 and 23 this year, he made a series of nuisance 999 calls to the ambulance service.

He made the calls from Carlisle city centre despite being banned from that area under the terms of a criminal behaviour order. Police attended and “intoxicated” Bell was arrested.

“This was familiar behaviour displayed by this defendant on previous occasions, and he is well known to the police and those in the local community,” said Miss Whittlestone.

Bell claimed in court on Friday that promises he would be met from custody last month by ministry personnel weren’t honoured.

He said this meant he was forced to sleep rough and later self-harmed, prompting 999 calls.

“From what I remember I wasn’t abusive with the police. I didn’t threaten them,” he told Judge Adkin.

“I sincerely apologise. I remember what you told me last time about further offences.”

Jailing Bell for two years, Judge Adkin accepted he had faced difficulties after leaving prison, but concluded: “Fresh offences were committed and that was a decision Mr Bell made of his own free will.”