A woman caught with knives after she again dialled 999 in breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order has been spared an immediate prison sentence.

Sophie Birkett is barred from contacting the emergency services unless in genuine and immediate need of help after she racked up eight offences for wasting police time between 2014 and 2017.

Since then she had breached a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CRIMBO) imposed by magistrates on July 21, 2017, nine times, prosecutor Emma Downing told Bradford Crown Court today.

Birkett, 26, of Cobden Street, Allerton, Bradford, pleaded guilty to having two kitchen knives in Allerton Road on May 17 and calling the emergency services for assistance when there was no emergency.

She further admitted calling the police at Ladyhill Park, Chapel Lane, Bradford, on May 12 in breach of the CRIMBO.

Miss Downing said that offence was committed at 5.45pm when Birkett had two knives and a razor blade with her.

She was on bail when she rang the police again five days later at 1pm.

This time Birkett had two steak knives with her.

Miss Downing said she refused to speak to health professionals alerted by the police and pretended to have taken an overdose. She was taken to hospital in a further waste of time and resources.

Six police officers involved in the incident could have been deployed elsewhere.

On an earlier occasion, she had called the police from Shipley town centre when she was in possession of two knives, the court was told.

A statement from the police said that Birkett tied up resources, and the “blue light” attendances on her potentially put both the police and members of the public at risk.

Police officers who went out to help her when she dialled them said she was uninterested in what was going on.

Birkett’s solicitor advocate, Simon Hustler, said she had been remanded in New Hall Prison for 74 days since her arrest. Although she didn’t want to stay behind bars the experience had been beneficial in the short-term.

Her parents were in court as always to help her, Mr Hustler said, Birkett had serious mental health problems and was being supported in the community at the time she committed the offences.

Recorder Judy Dawson read through a series of medical reports and a report from the probation service.

She sentenced Birkett to eight months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with a rehabilitation activity requirement and a two month curfew order.