IPSWICH: A disturbed woman who made 150 calls to the emergency services over a three-month period is in the care of St Clement’s Hospital today.

Debbie Warriner, of St Helen’s Street, Ipswich, refused to attend a hearing into her case at Ipswich Crown Court and was sentenced in her absence.

Robert Sadd, prosecuting, told the court the 49-year-old had made frequent 999 calls. She was said to have telephoned the emergency services 40 times in January, 50 times in February and on 60 occasions in March.

The ambulance service was called on 64 occasions, all of which were not justified by an emergency. Mr Sadd said Warriner had a mental health issue and had not made the calls out of malice.

Joanne Eley, representing Warriner, said her client was a very unwell woman who has had a troubled history, and the mental health service and community agencies had done their best to treat Warriner for her illness.

Reports on Warriner had found she was suffering from severe mental difficulty and needed treatment, the court heard.

A mental health nurse from St Clement’s Hospital, in Foxhall Road, was at court when it was explained that Warriner had categorically refused to attend. She had also stated she would not be present on any future occasion relating to her case.

Judge David Goodin accepted Warriner had health issues which needed specialist care.

He made a hospital order under the Mental Health Act and put Warriner in the care of the doctors and nurses of St Clement’s Hospital.

In March this year a murder investigation was launched after a man was found dead at Warriner’s flat in St Helen’s Street.

Paramedics were called there after Paul Lingham collapsed. The 36-year-old, a father to four-year-old Jasmine, and Keira, two, was pronounced dead when an ambulance crew arrived at the first floor flat, opposite The Dove public house, on the morning of Saturday, March 6.

A 44-year-old Ipswich man was arrested the same afternoon on suspicion of murder.

However, following an inquiry Mr Lingham’s death was not thought to be suspicious and earlier this month police said no further action would be taken against the man who had been arrested.