Welshpool man jailed over ‘Ant and Dec’ calls

A Welshpool man who was incensed that TV A-lister Ant McPartlin kept his job on Britain’s Got Talent has been jailed, according to the BBC.

David Kates-Lowick, of Oldford Rise, admitted breaching an order by contacting Dyfed-Powys Police when it was not a genuine police matter.

Mr McPartlin (left) went into rehab after a drink driving conviction in 2018, but was welcomed back to prime time television to join his on-screen presenting partner Declan Donnelly.

The BBC reports that Kates-Lowick, 57, who was subject to a suspended sentence, was jailed for 19 weeks at Llandudno Magistrates’ Court.

James Neary, prosecuting, said four calls were made to the police force in three days, during which Kates-Lowick told call handlers he was frustrated Mr McPartlin could still drive and be on TV when others would have lost their job.

Kates-Lowick told the court he was an alcoholic and under the influence of prescription drugs when he made the calls.

Defending him, Owain Jones said his client had called the 101 non-emergency line, not 999, and had not used foul language.

Mr Jones said Kates-Lowick had mobility problems and was a recluse, adding the call contents suggest he had “significant mental health issues” and constituted “a plea for help”.

Court chairman David Subacchi activated 10 weeks of Kates-Lowick's suspended sentence earlier, and sentenced him to a further nine weeks in prison, to run consecutively, for the most recent offence.

“This sort of behaviour just can’t go on,” Mr Subacchi told Kates-Lowick.