An Adelaide man is accused of calling the SA Police helpline more than 250 times in less than 12 hours.

Police allege Robert Branch, 45, allegedly rang the non-emergency South Australian Police line 251 times between 4.45pm on Wednesday afternoon until 1am on Thursday morning.

His calls were not for help, but of a “menacing and harassing nature” according to police.

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today

It was about 1.30am on Thursday, shortly after Branch’s last call to the police helpline, that he was arrested at his Paradise home.

He has been charged with using a carriage service in a harassing or offensive way.

Branch was denied bail on Thursday and is due back in court at a later date.

Police said the behaviour placed the community at risk.

“Calls placed to 131 444 services saves lives and is used for police assistance only,” they said.

“These calls consume a considerable amount of resources and put other members of the community at risk in the event of a real emergency.”