A British man was fined by police after he faked his own kidnapping in order to avoid his girlfriend and stay late at a party with his friends.
The man, whose name was not released, told his girlfriend that he was behind held against his will at a house in Bolton, United Press International reported.
He told his girlfriend he was going to be held until he repaid 50 pounds — roughly $83 — to his captor, UPI reported.
The girlfriend panicked and called the police. Law enforcement spent considerable resources and money trying to locate the man, who was ultimately discovered at a party with his friends in the early morning hours.
“Considerable resources and time then went into finding this man, who it transpires made the entire thing up so he could stay out and party,” detective inspector Jo Clawson said, UPI reported. “This is without doubt one of the most foolish and irresponsible incidents I have been involved in … Significant resources were taken off the front line of a Friday night, which is without exception one of the busiest times of the week.”
More than a dozen officers joined in the search. The man was fined, but not arrested — mainly because police didn’t want to waste any more time on him.
“We feel we have wasted enough time and resources on him already and not only has he been fined, this matter will be recorded as a criminal conviction on his record,” Miss Clawson said, UPI reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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