Jessica Anne Mackay pleads guilty to using phone to menace, harass

A Logan mother of three has narrowly dodged prison for her “attention seeking’’ behaviour after repeatedly menacing and harassing essential suicide prevention services in more than 200 calls. She was on probation for a similar offence at the time.

Jessica Anne Mackay pleaded guilty to using a phone to menace or harass.

A Logan mother of three has been labelled an “attention seeker” by a court after menacing and harassing life saving essential services 200 times.

Jessica Anne Mackay, 31, pleaded guilty to using her phone service to menace and harass Lifeline, Beyond Blue and Queensland Emergency Services for more than 50 hours.

She appeared before Beenleigh Magistrates Court on July 24.

The court head Mackay had been sentenced to serve six months’ probation in July last year for an identical charge.

Police prosecutor Kim Murphy said Mackay’s offending was concerning as her actions prevented other members of the community having access to the essential services.

“People could have died during this time,” Sgt Murphy said.

Acting Magistrate Michael Quinn said Mackay made more than 200 phone calls to the essential services between April and October last year.

“You took Lifeline personnel away from genuine cases of people contemplating taking their life, your actions are of grave concern,” Mr Quinn said.

“You are a repeat offender and knew full well what you were doing and the time (that was) being taken.

“You deliberately went about wasting as much time, once they called you back and you told them you were eating a pizza.

“You tied up their time as much as possible because you liked the attention.’’

Mackay’s lawyer said she was a mother of three children and was addressing her issues.

“She is on a disability support pension and feels she isn’t provided with certain support so that is what led to the constant communications,” they said.

“Twelve months of probation is my submission.’’

Mr Quinn said Mackay could not continue to make herself “the centre of attention” by harassing life-saving phone operators and police officers.

“You are heading towards a disaster and the community will not stand for it,” Mr Quinn said.

“You don’t become the centre of attention by ringing up very helpful people trying to prevent suicide.

“Don’t sit back and love the attention being given to you by police.’’

Mackay was told she could face jail if she continued to reoffend.

She was sentenced to serve 18 months’ probation.

A conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Jessica Anne Mackay pleads guilty to using phone to menace, harass