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Man jailed after repeatedly calling police to complain that Ant McPartlin was presenting Britain's Got Talent

Dave Benett
Dave Benett

A man has been sent to prison after repeatedly calling the police to complain that Ant McPartlin was still hosting Britain's Got Talent after his drink-driving conviction.

David Kates-Lowick, of Welshpool in Wales, was sentenced to 19 weeks in prison after admitting that the calls breached his suspended sentence and were not a genuine police matter.

Mr McPartlin, one half of famous TV presenting duo Ant and Dec alongside Declan Donnelly, was hit with an £86,000 fine and a 20-month driving ban after his drink-driving conviction in 2018.

He went to rehab and took several months off from presenting, before returning to work in early 2019.

Watch: Declan Donnelly describes the 'incredibly difficult time' following Ant McPartlin's TV departure

On Wednesday prosecutor James Neary told Llandudno Magistrates Court James Neary that Kates-Lowick, 57, made four calls to Dyfed-Powys police in just three days.

Kates-Lowick told operators he was upset Mr McPartlin could still drive and be a TV presenter when others may have lost their livelihood.

The court heard that Kates-Lowick is an alcoholic and was also under the influence of prescription drugs when he made the calls.

His lawyer, Owain Jones, said he also had problems with mobility and is a recluse, adding the calls suggest he had "significant mental health issues", amounting to "a plea for help".

Mr Jones also defended him by pointing out Kates Lowick had called the 101 non-emergency line, not 999, and had not used foul language.

Court chairman David Subacchi activated ten weeks of Kates-Lowick's suspended sentence, and sentenced him to a further nine weeks in prison, to run consecutively, for the most recent offence.

Mr Subacchi told Kates-Lowick: "This sort of behaviour just can't go on."

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