Custody for teen 999 hoax caller

Magistrates heard Sears was under the influence of alcohol

A teenager who made hoax 999 calls to the emergency services has been sentenced to four months youth custody.

Tyrone Sears, 18, from Prestatyn, Denbighshire, admitted wasting police time by making two hoax calls to police and one to the ambulance service.

Flintshire magistrates heard he had been drinking and could not remember falsely reporting a burglary and a collapsed woman at his home.

Magistrates said hoax calls put lives at risk in genuine emergencies.

Magistrate Grahame Thomas told Sears: "We hope that the sentence passed today will act as a deterrent to other would-be hoax callers.

"We hope you understand the seriousness of such a foolish prank."

Ambulance crew

Prosecutor Justin Espie told how police attended Sears' previous home in Bagillt, Flintshire, on 24 October and found the defendant standing outside.

He had made two 999 calls to police reporting a burglary and claiming someone had broken a back window and stolen his television and car keys.

An ambulance crew was also dispatched after Sears claimed a woman had collapsed.

Tony Newnes, defending, said his client had been under the influence of alcohol and could not remember the incident.

Sears was told the sentence would have to be served consecutively with a youth custody sentence he is already serving for previous offences.