Ann Maree Nightingale, 30, appeared in Port Kembla Local Court on Friday, charged with one count of breaching an apprehended violence order and one count of using a carriage service to harass, amid claims she repeatedly called Premier Illawarra on Thursday morning.

The court heard Nightingale was already on bail for similar offences relating to the same company when she made the calls, and was also subject to an AVO banning her having any physical or telephone contact with the alleged victim, an employee at the company responsible for answering incoming calls.

Police documents tendered to the court said the phone operator told police she’d arrived for her shift at 9am and had been on the phones for only a short time when Nightingale called. The woman said she recognised Nightingale’s voice immediately and contacted police. Officers arrived around midday and spoke to the alleged victim and a co-worker, who said together they had received more than 50 phone calls from Nightingale that morning. Nightingale handed herself in at Lake Illawarra police station later that day.

In court on Friday, defence lawyer Jonathan Kearney said Nightingale had limited insight into her behaviour and the ramifications if she continued doing it.

He said previous similar charges had been dealt with under mental health legislation.

He said Nightingale’s mother, with whom she lived, would ensure her daughter did not have access to a phone if released on bail.

The magistrate,  Michael Stoddart, agreed to release Nightingale, provided she had no access to a telephone, even if, in the case of a mobile, it was only used to play games.

‘‘If you continue doing this again you’re going to get locked up,’’ he warned Nightingale.