A Canberra man arrested after he allegedly made repeated vexatious calls to triple zero overnight has pleaded not guilty.
The 61-year-old man was drunk when he called the emergency number eight times between 10pm and 1am on Monday night, documents tendered in court allege.
The man told the call operators "his wife was asleep in a room at [the address] and that he was fearful of her."
But he could not articulate why he was fearful, the police say.
He was allegedly abusive towards the police call operators, telling them over several phone calls that officers were "corrupt", the police were hopeless, and on his wife's side.
The police say he made allegations of violence against his wife but was unable to give specific or consistent details.
Just before midnight on Monday police went to the Chifley home where the man was allegedly abusive towards the police, saying they had taken too long to arrive after he called.
The documents also suggest the man was "heavily intoxicated"; he was unsteady on his feet and his eyes were glassy.
Before leaving the police told the man they would investigate the allegation of violence but that if he continued making calls without an emergency he would be charged with an offence.
He could not explain why his wife was a threat, the police say.
In a seventh triple zero call the man was warned by operators about the improper use of an emergency call line.
He allegedly made an eighth call after being warned.
The man was arrested overnight and faced the ACT Magistrates Court where he applied for and was granted bail unopposed.
He was charged with the improper use of an emergency call service, a Commonwealth criminal offence that carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison.
He pleaded not guilty and said he would fight the charges.
"I didn't do any offence, I don't understand," he told the court.
"Calling triple zero for help is offence, come on."
The case will return to court in October.