Fake kidnap plotter fined £1,000

A man from Lancashire who faked his own kidnap has been fined £1,000 for wasting police time.

Peter Woodward, 57, told officers from Merseyside Police he had been held hostage by three men, made to drive to Liverpool and robbed of £90.

He was fined at South Ribble Magistrates Court on Thursday, after an extensive police investigation uncovered his lies.

Det Sgt Jon Cass said it was "sad" that he had fabricated such a story.

Woodward presented himself at a police station in Liverpool on 2 April and told them he had been kidnapped on Hough Lane, Leyland, after being threatened.

Five weeks later, he was arrested and eventually admitted wasting police time.

Det Sgt Jon Cass added: "Mr Woodward made a very serious allegation to the police, that he had been kidnapped which will always be investigated extremely thoroughly.

"It is a sad fact that some people do fabricate being victims of crime.

"Mr Woodward was prosecuted due to the amount of time invested in this investigation, which could have been put to better use investigating real crime."