A fireman has gone on trial accused of making three hoax 999 calls to ensure he and his colleagues earned overtime payments.

The BBC's Kevin Bocquet reports (1-05)

Paul Roberts, 32, was sacked from duty after an internal investigation concluded he had made the calls in 1996.

Liverpool Crown Court court was also told how the inquiry was prompted after a senior fire officer became suspicious after attending a hoax call in August 1996.

On two occasions the caller's number, recorded by BT, was Mr Roberts' mobile phone number and the third came from a phone booth.

Investigators concluded that Mr Roberts, a member of Green Watch based at Old Swan in Liverpool, had made the calls to get one hour's overtime for his colleagues.

'It's a false call from Paul', court told

Station Watch Officer Roger Denton told the court he had a good working relationship with the members of Green Watch.

But, he added, he became suspicious when the watch was called out to a hoax fire when Roberts was on annual leave.

He said: "When we reached the scene of the fire I noticed there were members of the crew who had not put their fire-kit on.

"I heard one firefighter say to another 'Don't bother putting your kit on - it's a false call from Paul'. This was followed by subdued laughing."

Mr Denton, who has 34 years experience with Merseyside Fire Brigade, told his senior officer of his suspicions.

Tape played to court

The tape of a caller reporting the third fire, which turned out to be a hoax, was played to the court. Mr Denton said he believed the voice to be Mr Roberts.

The accused was suspended from duty and eventually sacked in early 1997.

Nicholas Johnson, defending, suggested Mr Denton could not be sure the hoax caller was Mr Roberts as the tape quality was poor.

Mr Denton agreed the tape was not perfect, but said he was sure it was the fire-fighter making the call.

Mr Roberts denies three charges of enabling Green Watch to gain a pecuniary advantage by giving them the opportunity to gain renumeration through deception.

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