REPEATED hoax calls to the ambulance service landed a teenager in court – after his mother confirmed his guilt.

The 15-year-old from Shoeburyness, who cannot be named for legal reasons, made 13 hoax calls in three weeks, claiming that people were choking, suffering cardiac arrest, and other serious incidents.

On October 11 last year, a paramedic attending one of the calls spotted him in a phone box and followed the youth before calling police.

Although he initially denied the crimes to officers, the police played recordings of the phone calls to his mother who confirmed it was him.

Magistrate Dennis Alabaster said: “We take a very serious view of what you’ve done, your actions could have resulted in a very serious incident, someone could who was in serious trouble might not have got the help they needed.”

The youngster – who takes medication for attention hyperactivity deficit disorder (ADHD) – told the court that he had learnt from his mistakes.

He said: “I want to say sorry, I thought it was funny at the time but I know it’s not.”

He pleaded guilty and was given a six month youth referral order and was ordered to pay £15 costs at Southend Youth Court on April 18.

Gary Sanderson, spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service said: “First and foremost anyone making a hoax call is a dangerous and despicable thing to do. The ambulances attending these wasted calls are being held up attending the public who really need an ambulance in an emergency.

“Anyone caught making these calls will be referred to the Police and dealt with appropriately.

“Abuse of the 999 system will not be tolerated by our trust. If you are prepared to risk diverting an emergency ambulance to a member of the public who genuinely needs it, be prepared to receive a hefty fine or even a prison sentence.”