On September 8, last year, Jacob Woodford was at a holiday camp in Selsey.
He dialled 999 and claimed to have a sawn-off shotgun that he intended to use to harm himself.
He also made a false claim about a hostage being held inside the caravan during the phone call.
Armed officers and police negotiators responded to the scene, and after a one-hour standoff, Woodford surrendered and was arrested on suspicion of making death threats.
Under the Malicious Communications Act, the 29-year-old of Benhams Road, Southampton, was charged with sending a communication conveying a threatening message and admitted the charge in court.
On July 8, he appeared in Portsmouth Crown Court for sentencing. He committed the crime just one month after receiving a suspended prison sentence for assaulting a police officer in Hampshire.
Woodford was sentenced to ten months in prison for his offence as well as for violating his suspended sentence.
The court heard how, at 6.42 p.m., officers arrived at the holiday park and arrested a person known to Woodford on suspicion of assault. The individual was later released without charge.
Woodford then admitted to drinking vodka and mixers before calling to demand the person be released from police custody, threatening to commit suicide.
During the 999 call, he claimed to have a firearm and threatened to kill any officers dispatched to the scene.
“I’ve got someone here, he can’t speak right now, he’s tied up,” he said.
Woodford eventually agreed to surrender to police and apologised during his interview for his “drunken mistake.”
Officers searched the caravan where he was staying and found no weapons or evidence of anyone else being inside.
Woodford’s drunken 999 call caused great concern,” said Detective Sergeant Chris May of Chichester CID.
“Our contact handler acted professionally to keep him calm and gather important information, but Woodford escalated the situation by threatening himself and others.”
He committed this crime less than a month after receiving a suspended prison sentence from West Hampshire Magistrates’ Court for assaulting a police officer.
“His threatening phone call put himself, our officers, and other members of the public in jeopardy.”
“It also meant that specialist officers might have missed a potentially critical incident elsewhere while responding to him.”
“We are pleased with how this case turned out. It demonstrates our determination to prosecute those who endanger the public.”
