A nuisance caller to emergency services deliberately coughed on police and made out she had COVID-19, a court has heard.
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Susan Collier applied for bail at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Monday after she was arrested on Saturday.
The 53-year-old Cardigan woman, who has mental health issues, is accused of making almost 300 calls to triple-0 since November 2019 and refusing to cooperate with police when they responded to the calls. Police prosecutor Senior Constable Steve Repac said Collier called triple-0 almost 240 times between November 28, 2019 and February 26, 2020 to make false reports of domestic violence and suicide threats.
Police attended Collier's address on March 22, 2020 and when police attempted to enter, it alleged she coughed on a police member's face, made comments about feeling unwell, said she had a temperature and made out she was infected by COVID-19.
Senior Constable Repac said Collier contacted triple-0 another 60 times during the past week.
The court heard on Saturday Collier reported her ex-husband had broken her nose and she said she would self-harm.
It appears by your conduct you are a serious menace to yourself and numerous people in our community - the very people who are expected to bear the brunt of COVID-19.
- Magistrate Ron Saines
Police attended the address and Collier came to the door with a teatowel over her nose, but would not cooperate with police.
The court heard police were aware Collier had been placed on the nuisance caller list and her ex-husband did not live at her house. Police left the address but returned later after Collier made another report to triple-0. Senior Constable Repac said Collier deliberately coughed on police and continued after she was warned to stop.
The court heard Collier was taken to hospital and cleared of all health concerns, before she was arrested. Senior Constable Repac said Collier continued to refuse to cooperate with police and defacated and urinated on the cell floor in front of officers.
Defence lawyer Andrew Madden said Collier was diagnosed with PTSD and borderline personality disorder and had problems with alcohol abuse.
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Mr Madden said Collier was best placed in the community to obtain the assistance and treatment she needed.
Magistrate Ron Saines said he needed to be convinced bail conditions could reduce the risk of re-offending and endangering the safety and well-being of the public, particularly emergency services.
"It appears by your conduct you are a serious menace to yourself and numerous people in our community - the very people who are expected to bear the brunt of COVID-19," he said.
The court heard Collier had refused to attend Ballarat Psychiatric Services in the past. "It appears to me she has serious mental health and alcohol abuse issues... If she does not engage with services it appears she will return to the same conduct," Mr Saines said.
Mr Saines granted Collier bail, with the conditions she undergo treatment with Ballarat Psychiatric Services, participate in the Court Integrated Services Program and be abstinent from alcohol.
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