PROSECUTORS have dropped the case against an alleged phone pest who made dozens of 999 phone calls.

Anthony Walters had been accused of breaking a criminal behaviour order imposed after a series of similar offences in 2018.

Mr Walters, 59, of St Johns Road, Winchester , was alleged to have between February 13 and July 22 last year phoned the emergency services 51 times in breach of the order made by Basingstoke Magistrates Court in April 2019.

The prosecution had alleged on all occasions there was no genuine emergency.

He was told to attend Winchester Crown Court on January 4 and released on unconditional bail by magistrates in Basingstoke.

A spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed to the Chronicle that the case had been dropped: "The case has been discontinued – no longer in the public interest to prosecute."

The CPS contacted Winchester Crown Court on December 19 to say no court hearing would be needed.

In a statement the CPS added: “Prosecutors must keep cases under constant review to ensure our legal tests are met. After an assessment of this case, we decided it was no longer in the public interest to continue with the prosecution.”