A DRUNK man who was being plagued by problem neighbours made a desperate attempt to get help - by dialling 999 and telling police somebody was being murdered.

Despite there being no genuine emergency, David Edward Delahunty, 62, made at least six emergency calls.

In one he shouted at a Cumbria Police call handler, while in another he said: "Somebody's getting murdered."

He also complained about "drug dealers" who he said were coming to this house.

At Carlisle's Rickergate Magistrates' Court, Delahunty, of Grasmere Street, Currock, admitted persistently making improper use of the telephone network on one day to cause annoyance.

Pam Ward, prosecuting, said the defendant lived in a block of flats in Carlisle and was having ongoing neighbour problems.

He had complained to his landlord about the flat below him, she said.

"He said he was threatened by one of the occupants," said the prosecutor.

On March 5, in desperation, he used his mobile phone to make six 999 calls to Cumbria Police while clearly intoxicated.

He terminated one call after shouting at a call-handler.

"He said somebody was getting murdered," said Mrs Ward.

The call-handler repeatedly asked him to specify who was at risk and how - but he had no reasonable answer.

The defendant was also warned repeatedly that the 999 service was for only genuine emergencies.

"He said he had made the calls out of desperation and that he just wanted something done," said Mrs Ward.

"He said he just wanted to live a peaceful life.

Sean Harkin, for Delahunty, said: "The defendant does have a genuine problem with nuisance neighbours and he has taken all the legitimate steps, including ringing the housing association.

"He acted out of frustration, and while he was quite drink as well.

"He accepts it was not an emergency situation and he apologises for his actions."

The lawyer added that Delahunty had not caused major disruption of distress.

District Judge Gerald Chalk accepted that the defendant had genuine neighbour problems but warned him that he should not use the 999 system in that way, taking call-handlers away from genuine emergency work.

He fined the defendant £170, with £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

Delahunty must also abide by an 8pm to 6am curfew for the next seven weeks.