Wrexham 'psychic' made 70 hoax 999 calls

By Claire Gallagher

A WOMAN has admitted making 70 hoax calls to the emergency services.

Julie Ann Pritchard made the calls from her Llangollen home and on one occasion said she was psychic and thought something ‘bad would happen’.

Wrexham magistrates court heard that on most occasions Pritchard, 48, was drunk and during one call asked the operator for a taxi.

Pritchard, of Hill Street, admitted making the hoax calls on May 31, June 1, June 2, June 11 and June 12.

She admitted 29 offences in court and was fined for 41 of the remaining offences.

Emily Downing, prosecuting, said: “When she was making the calls other genuine calls could not get through.

“On May 31, she phoned 999 at 6.24pm and wasn’t making any sense.“She called to say she wasn’t abusing 999.

“At 7pm she said she wanted to press charges against another member of her family.“The officer attended and she refused to open the door.”

Miss Downing said that at 7.22pm Pritchard called again and when the operator told her to stop phoning 999 she told them to “hush.”She phoned again at 7.38pm, 7.41pm and 7.52pm.

The court heard that on June 1, Pritchard called 999 four times.

On June 2 and 3 she made more calls when “intoxicated,” Miss Downing said.

“At 39 minutes past midnight on June 4 she called to say she does not like the people of Llangollen,” she said.“She also said she called to have a ‘talk’.”

During the same call she said she had cooked a meal for her boyfriend and that they were going to watch a film.

On June 11, Pritchard called to say she thought something bad would happen because she was psychic.“She was abusive and slurring her words,” said Miss Downing.

On June 12, she said she had to get a taxi for her friend and the operator told her that 999 was not a taxi service.

At 8.15pm on this day Pritchard phoned and began talking about ‘historic incidents’, Miss Downing said.

Gavin Rogers, defending, said: “She has indicated that she is very sorry for what she has done.

“Drink has played a big part in the case.“She is a lonely person, she gets depressed and has panic attacks.”

Mr Rogers added that she had a history of mental health problems.

Magistrates adjourned the case to enable the probation service to prepare a pre-sentence report.

She was granted conditional bail not to contact the emergency services without good reason.

She will appear back at Wrexham magistrates on August 14 for sentence.