A CARDENDEN man who repeatedly wasted the time of the emergency services has been warned that he is "very, very" close to a custodial sentence.

Stephen Paterson pestered 999 call handlers on multiple occasions, often telling them he was suicidal, when he had no intention of harming himself.

On one occasion he also assaulted a police officer after needlessly ringing the emergency services.

Defence solicitor, Stephen Morrison, said his client was socially isolated.

Paterson, 41, of Kirkburn Drive, appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court for sentencing.

He previously admitted that on September 25, 2016, at Navitie Park, Ballingry, he called NHS 24 and stated he had taken an overdose.

On March 24 last year, at Kirkburn Drive, he repeatedly contacted the emergency services, said he was suicidal and falsely claimed he had taken a quantity of drugs.

On June 2, at his home and in Wallsgreen Gardens, Cardenden, he falsely said to Police Scotland call handlers that he had lost his mobile phone and also that he would jump in front of cars, causing police to investigate false claims.

And, on June 22 at his home address he did call 999 emergency call handlers when it was not necessary to do so and did assault a police constable in the execution of his duty and did kick him on the body.

In 2016 he was heard by emergency call works slurring his words and swearing before hanging up. When police arrived, they found no reason for his call but just a couple of hours later he phoned again.

This time he said he had taken an overdose and officers arrived he told them he just wanted someone to talk to.

On March last year he again told call handlers that he was suicidal, both ambulance workers and police attended and found him drunk.

On June 2 of this year he made multiple calls to the emergency services and on one call told them he was going to jump in front of cars. Again, he was found under the influence of alcohol at a public phone box.

In the latest incident on June 22 he called police just because he wanted to speak about a number of matters that were going to Court. He said that it had made him suicidal.

When they arrived five minutes later he told them he just wanted to speak about his Court cases and that he would keep phoning them until they lifted him.

Later when officers attended after another call became aggressive with a constable and kicked him to the legs.

When cautioned and charged, Paterson said: "He deserved it".

Mr Morrison explained that Paterson also had previous convictions for similar offences.

"His behaviour has appeared to continue unbroken," he said.

"However, his attitude towards the office is radically different.

"When Mr Paterson is sober he is very respectful, but that clearly changes when he takes a drink.

"There are outlining mental health issues.

"He has been sober since June 22, I appreciate that is not a long time but for someone drinking every day that something that he is proud of."

Sheriff Charles Macnair said: "In this day and age it is well known that police and ambulance resources are very limited and when people misuse the facilities they are not available to people who need them.

"On one occasion you assaulted a police officer which will not be tolerated. You are very, very close to getting a custodial sentence."

The Sheriff imposed a sentence of 300 unpaid hours and a fine of £150.