And finally…a fishy tale

And finally...a fishy tale

A Scottish fisherman’s ploy to get a free lift home from police by claiming he’d been assaulted has ended up costing him a £500 fine instead.

Matthew McAtasney, 19, falsely claimed he had been assaulted bafter being approached by 12 men on a street in the Aberdeenshire town of Peterhead.

The teenager, whose address was given in court papers as Howatt Park, Sandhaven, was on Constitution Street in Peterhead on June 11 last year when he contacted police to say he had been repeatedly punched and kicked.



Depute fiscal Ruaridh McAlister told the court that officers called to the scene realised the story was “made up” and that the teenager was hoping they would take him home.

Mr McAlister said McAtasney was taken to hospital to be checked over, but no injuries were found on his body.

He said officers spent almost seven hours on the investigation and the trip to accident and emergency as well as another four hours taking witness statements.

McAtasney appeared at Peterhead Sheriff Court this week and admitted a charge of wasting police time.

Sheriff Robert McDonald fined him £500.

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