A Wollongong woman accused of repeatedly drunk-dialing triple-zero to the point of harassment has been refused bail in Wollongong Local Court.
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Lynda Finlay, described in court documents as an unemployed alcoholic, was arrested on Monday morning and charged with making false calls after phoning emergency services four times in eight hours requesting medical help.
Court documents said each time Finlay called she complained she was “unconscious and needed to go to hospital”.
She was transported there on the first two occasions as per NSW Ambulance policy, however apparently left each time of her own accord.
Paramedics failed to locate her the third time; a senior officer was sent out as a result of the fourth call.
That officer found Finlay in an intoxicated state, lying on the floor at the bottom of a set of stairs leading to her unit block.
She was again checked over and cleared of further illness.
Police who arrived at the scene discovered Finlay had tried calling triple-zero 22 times in the space of seven days, however on many occasions had put not enough or too many zeros into her phone.
“Police can only imagine she was well affected by alcohol and not able to successfully make the calls,” officers wrote in a statement presented in court.
In refusing bail, Magistrate Susan McGowan noted Finlay had previous similar matters on her record and had failed to comply with court orders or bail conditions in the past.
“She’s obviously in need of help….but at this stage there are no bail conditions that could mitigate against the risk she poses to the community,” Magistrate McGowan said.