SUFFERING emotional stress on New Year's Eve, a Central Queensland man dialled a former colleague looking for help.

Instead of calling a private number though, he had called Triple Zero.

The man, who The Morning Bulletin has chosen not to name for privacy reasons, pleaded guilty in the Rockhampton Magistrates Court yesterday to the false call.

Police prosecutor Gavin Reece said the call was made at 10.35pm on New Year's Eve, but when the man asked to be put through to the Queensland Police Service, he hung up before being transferred.

Having traced the call from a mobile phone, officers went to the man's house at 11.10pm.

The man told them he had only "wanted to have a chat" to ex-colleagues in the Queensland and Northern Territory police services.

Representing himself in court, the man told Magistrate Jeff Clarke he had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder when he retired from the police service after 15 years in the job.

The man said he felt particularly stressed during times of the year when police were generally busier.

He had been drinking on the night and picked up his phone to dial a number labelled "police", not realising it was Triple Zero and not former colleagues.

The man apologised for his actions and presented several letters recognising his work as a police officer, as well as his struggle with PTSD.

Mr Clarke said the man had "been inflicted with a serious disorder". "There was no sinister motive behind your call," he said.

The man was placed on a $100 bond for a month. No conviction was recorded.