08/06/2009

Bradford Man Cautioned After Making Up Robbery

A Bradford man has been formally cautioned by police after claims he made about being robbed were uncovered as lies.

The 21-year-old from the Woodside area was arrested for wasting police time after making the false allegation.

He claimed he had been robbed by two men on Boltby Lane - saying that they had barged him as they walked past and taken his bag which contained an Xbox 360 and games.

Officers spent time investigating the claim and a man was arrested. They then discovered that the 21-year-old had made up the allegation and the Xbox and games had been sold. The other man was the de-arrested.

Detective Inspector Pat O'Neill of Bradford South CID said: "We will not tolerate any false reports of crime and anyone making them will be dealt with.

"Any allegation made to the police is treated seriously and officers can spend significant periods of time gathering evidence, obtaining statements, identifying witnesses and looking for forensic evidence. False reports of this kind mean that officers who could be investigating other matters are wastefully employed.

"This is a criminal offence and will be treated accordingly. In this instance one man was arrested who shouldn't have been after his name was suggested by the alleged victim but the real culprit was uncovered and has received a formal caution which will stay on his record for some time."

(JM/KMcA)

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