Falkirk time wasting 'poor soul' now under court supervision

James Short (63) appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court on Thursday having previously pleaded guilty to causing annoyance by repeatedly contacting the 999 emergency service for no reason at his Wallace Street, Falkirk home on September 9, 2020.

Simon Hutchison, defence solicitor, said: “He has had an alcohol problem for a number of years. For years he was living with his mother and she was able to control him to some extent, but unfortunately she is no longer with us.

"He is quite a poor soul.”

Mr Hutchison added Short, who uses crutches to aid his mobility, sometimes finds himself unable to move for days at a time.

Earlier in the year the court heard Short was smelling strongly of alcohol when police attended at his address on a couple of occasions, following up on his phone calls.

It was claimed Short was so upset by the experience – being advised his situation “did not warrant a call to the emergency services” – that he failed to call 999 when he had a fall and ended up lying on the floor for a long period of time.

The court heard Short was still grief stricken over the death of his son some years ago and alcohol was his way of coping.

On Thursday, Sheriff Christopher Shead Livingston placed Short on a supervised community payback order for 12 months and allowed his existing restriction of liberty order to continue.