A NUISANCE 999 caller banned from calling emergency services after making numerous false suicide threats has now been convicted of trespassing on the railway.

Dawn Richardson, 43, of Middlefield, Pelton, was convicted in her absence at South Durham Magistrates Court after she did not attend her court hearing.

However she had entered a guilty plea by post.

John Garside, prosecuting, said: "She has gone into a taxi office asking when the next train is.

"She said she was going to jump in front of the train.

"The taxi office then contacted the police, the police came out and they physically have to remove the defendant form the tracks.

"She has a criminal behaviour order preventing her from contacting emergency services after incidents in the past where she said she is going to commit suicide and has no intention of doing so."

She had gone on to the tracks near to Chester le Street station and just a minute after police had to remove her from the line a train came past.

Mr Garside said Richardson was on a suspended sentence for offences involving the railway and breaching a restraining order — but this offence predated that.

Magistrates fined her £40 and ordered her to pay a £30 victim surcharge.

She was also ordered to pay £85 costs.

CBOs can be imposed by courts following convictions and can prevent an offender doing anything described in the order.