Nuisance Caller Runs Up Nearly £22k NHS 111 Bill with Bizarre Foot Fetish Prank
Richard William Cove, 45, from Heene, Worthing, has pleaded guilty to making malicious communications after bombarding NHS 111 with false calls. The buyer admitted his bizarre prank at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 10 August. Sentencing is set for 13 September.
Fake Calls Trigger Ambulance Dispatches and Waste NHS Resources
NHS 111 is a free service offering medical advice in non-emergency situations across Sussex, run by South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb). Between April 2019 and April 2021, officials uncovered 1,263 calls from Cove posing as an elderly woman with strange queries about feet.
The nuisance calls used fake personal details and ailments, causing clinicians to make return calls and even dispatch ambulances. The cost to the NHS? A staggering £21,869.21 — all wasted on a twisted game.
Police Crack Down on Bizarre Prank Caller
PC David Quayle confirmed: “We traced the offender’s phone number and arrested Cove at his home, where he made the calls from his landline.”
“He admitted making all the calls for his own enjoyment and personal benefit. He said he has a sexual foot fetish which he indulged during most of the calls.”
NHS Staff Left Distressed by Malicious Calls
SECAmb’s David Davis slammed the selfish antics: “One false call puts lives at risk by diverting resources from genuine emergencies. Our staff work tirelessly and these calls caused them unnecessary distress.”
He added: “We welcome Cove’s conviction and the efforts of everyone involved to hold him accountable.”
