Man admits calling 999 to make false shooting claim

Published on Thursday 5 November 2009 08:52

A MAN sparked a major firearms incident response after falsely claiming he had witnessed a shooting.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday heard Wayne Lynch, 33, made a 999 call to the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Fiscal depute Ruth Ross-Davie said: "It was around 1:30pm when a 999 call was received which indicated that a man had been shot in Moat Drive, Edinburgh.

"The caller said the man was badly injured and gave a description of the suspect.

A major incident response was launched including armed response units."

A search of the area was carried out and police found Lynch, who matched the description given by the caller. Shortly before 3pm it became clear there had been no shooting incident and Lynch was detained for wasting police time.

Lynch, of McNeill Street, Edinburgh, admitted making a false representation to the Scottish Ambulance Service on 11 August last year.

Sheriff Elizabeth Jarvie QC deferred sentence until next month for background reports.