'River leap' hoax led to huge alert

Jason Robey, 25, posed as his brother, Michael, to claim to the emergency operator that he had leapt into the River Ouse in Selby.

An RAF Sea King helicopter was launched from RAF Boulmer 140 miles away in Northumberland. A second was scrambled by Humberside Police.

A rescue boat left York and dozens of police, fire officers and paramedics headed to the scene – while both men were safe and sound at home.

The Humberside Police aircraft costs 1,000 an hour to deploy – clocking up a combined bill for the operation and the court case of 5,750.

Selby magistrates heard he made a full and frank admission when traced.

Liam Hassan, defending, said he was drinking heavily at the time and had suffered from depression for two years.

Sentencing him to eight weeks in prison suspended for a year, presiding magistrate Wendy Bromwich branded his actions "despicable".

Robey was also given a 12-month supervision order, told to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, attend an alcohol programme and pay 250 court costs. He admitted wasting police time.