Eastbourne Man Jailed for Bombarding Police with 750+ Nuisance Calls
Patrick Matthews, 58, has been locked up for eight weeks after flooding Sussex and Essex Police with over 750 nuisance calls. Between October 2022 and April 2023, Matthews made 436 calls to Sussex Police and 304 to Essex Police. Most of these were hoaxes, with some featuring abusive and threatening language.
Continued Harassment Despite Bail Restrictions
Matthews initially pleaded guilty on July 5 to persistently misusing a public communication network to cause annoyance, inconvenience, or anxiety. Released on unconditional bail, he ignored restrictions and slammed the police with 14 more hoax calls the very next day. This blatant defiance forced police to impose strict bail conditions, forbidding him from contacting Sussex Police except in genuine emergencies.
But Matthews flouted these orders once again, making 16 more calls in December. His relentless disruptions finally caught up with him at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on December 13, where he was sentenced to an eight-week jail term.
Police Crackdown on Persistent Hoax Callers
Sarah-Louise Gliddon, Sussex Police’s Force Persistent Caller Lead, slammed Matthews’ actions:
“For every genuine caller waiting to speak to us, there may be a caller such as Matthews in front of them. The volume and frequency of his calls impacted the contact centre’s ability to help people in real need while he was blocking the line.”
She revealed that persistent prosecutions have significantly cut hoax call volumes, from 16,016 in 2017 to 8,487 in 2022. Since 2014, Sussex Police have tackled over 750 individuals making such nuisance calls.
Police Warn: Don’t Waste Emergency Lines
Neighbourhood Policing Officer Chris Holmes emphasised the consequences:
“When people misuse police contact, whether by phone or online, it causes delays for those who genuinely need urgent help. Each unnecessary call diverts vital resources away from vulnerable individuals.”
Sussex Police remain committed to stamping out nuisance calls to ensure rapid response times for emergencies, safeguarding the public who truly need assistance.
