A Canberra man charged with making a series of vexatious phone calls to emergency services overnight argues it is "not a crime" to call triple-0.
Henryk Jozwik, 61, allegedly called police multiple times to say he was fearful of his wife and wanted her removed, but could not explain why.
After several calls, police visited Jozwik's Chifley home, where they said he was drunk and abusive and his wife was asleep in bed.
He allegedly told police his wife had struck him with a pan a fortnight ago, and occasionally hit him with a plate.
Police said Jozwik was unable to give consistent details, and advised him not to call again unless it was an emergency.
But Jozwik allegedly kept calling — eight times all up — before police visited again and arrested him.
He appeared this morning in the ACT Magistrates Court, where he chose to represent himself.
He pleaded not guilty to the calls, because he said he "didn't know it was a crime".
"To call triple-0 is [an] offence? Come on. What is triple-0 for?" Jozwik said.
Jozwik was granted bail and will face court again in October.
