NEWS: Skye hoax caller jailed
A
man who has been found guilty of making multiple hoax calls to the UK
Coastguard has been jailed for four months.
Alasdair Munro, 55, from Kyleakin, Skye, appeared before Sheriff Scott at Portree Sheriff Court on 27th August 2015.
Mr Munro denied all charges but was found guilty of an offence contrary to the Communications Act 2003 section 127.
Alasdair Munro, 55, from Kyleakin, Skye, appeared before Sheriff Scott at Portree Sheriff Court on 27th August 2015.
Mr Munro denied all charges but was found guilty of an offence contrary to the Communications Act 2003 section 127.
The
court was told that Mr Munro had called HM Coastguard multiple times on 30th
October 2013 claiming that a yacht was lost in Loch Hourn.
Mr
Munro explained that he had spoken to someone on VHF radio stating that they
were lost in Loch Hourn and didn’t know how to get out.
In
response to his call, the Mallaig RNLI Lifeboat and Kyle Coastguard Rescue
Teams were sent to search for the vessel.
The
yacht that Mr Munro claimed to have heard from was not found. Police
interviewed Mr Munro and found that there was legitimate cause to believe that
the calls to the Coastguard had been a hoax.
In
passing sentence, Sheriff Scott said in his view that Mr Munro was guilty of
the offence beyond reasonable doubt.
Mr
Munro apologised for what he had done.
In
jailing him for four months, Sheriff Scott said it was an extremely serious
office.
Jackie
Mackenzie, HM Coastguard, said:
"The
important thing is that the hoax caller was found and punished. HM Coastguard fully
supports the action of the police and the court in dealing with this
offence. Hoax calls can, and in this
case did tie up a valuable maritime Search and Rescue resource.
“Those
who risk their own safety to rescue others should also not be put at needless
risk in responding to hoax distress calls.”