The cost of a Wiltshire man’s ‘sexually explicit’ calls to 999 is estimated to be in the region of £186,000.
Richard Bowles pleaded guilty to phoning for an emergency ambulance 1,920 times – before speaking to call handlers in an indecent and abusive manner.
The 51-year-old, of Woodstock Road, Salisbury, was sentenced to an 18-month community order at Salisbury Crown Court on 29 August.
As part of his punishment for seven counts of sending indecent or grossly offensive electronic communications with intent to cause distress or anxiety, he must complete 120 hours of unpaid work.
He was also handed a Criminal Behaviour Order. It prohibits him from calling emergency or non-emergency numbers and acting in an inappropriate sexualised manner.
“Members of the public who work for Wiltshire Police, South Western Ambulance Service, and other non-emergency NHS 111 services do so to help people”, PC Hannah Cranham said.
Adding: “They do not go to work to receive abuse. Bowles’ behaviour is nothing short of unacceptable. He is a persistent offender acting for his own gratification.
“Many of the calls involved abusive and sexually explicit behaviour. The implementation of the Criminal Behaviour Order speaks volumes about Bowles’ offending and how it will not be tolerated.”
The court heard how between December 2022 and July 2025, Bowles called 999 for an ambulance 1,920 times. The total cost of these incidents is estimated to be around £186,000, according to South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.
Crime & Violence Reduction Manager Mike Jones said: “Bowles has continued to be one of the most prolific offenders of sexually explicit and crude behaviour towards colleagues.
“Not only does this behaviour have a significant cost to the public purse, money which cannot be spent on delivering great patient care, but the personal impact is vast.
“Colleagues join the ambulance service to help people. They do not expect to be sworn at, abused and subject to graphic sexual harassment for the job they do.
“Many colleagues have had to endure Bowles’s abuse purely for his own gratification which has ultimately taken them away from providing help to those in need.
“Colleagues have a difficult enough job, dealing with people at what is often their greatest time of need.
“The sentencing sends a clear message that this type of behaviour is unacceptable.
“We’d like to thank Wiltshire Police for their investigation into Bowles’s behaviour and we will continue to work with our police colleagues and partners to relentlessly pursue those who seek to abuse and misuse our services.”
