A man has been jailed for faking his own kidnap to extort money from his family.
Zubair
Hussain claimed that his kidnappers were threatening to kill him and
sent pictures of himself with a bag over his head and with his hands
bound.
Hussain's
distraught family received text messages claiming that the 24-year-old
driver, from Sparkbrook, Birmingham, had been kidnapped on New Year's
Eve.
The series of messages demanded money in order to ensure Hussain did not come to harm.
They then reported the supposed kidnapping to police and a large-scale investigation was launched by city detectives.
But 24 hours later authorities tracked Hussain to a house in the Ernsford Grange area of Coventry.
He was safe and well and there was no trace of anyone holding him against his will.
Zubair was subsequently arrested and charged with blackmail in April.
Zubair appeared before
Warwickshire Justice Centre on Friday (27 September), where he pleaded
guilty to the charge and was sentenced to eight months imprisonment.
Detective
Inspector Martin Brennan, from West Midlands Police Serious and
Organised Crime Unit, said: 'This case highlights what can happen when
someone makes false accusations and wastes police time in such an
audacious manner.
'Any
report of kidnap is treated very seriously and significant, costly,
resources are deployed to ensure the victim is returned safe and well,
whilst those responsible are detained.
'To
recklessly make such claims not only wastes police resources which
could have been used elsewhere but caused his family and friends
unnecessary distress.
'The
family believed that Zubair had been kidnapped and that there was a
real possibility of him being seriously harmed or even killed.
'Hopefully
this prison sentence demonstrates that such incidents will be dealt
with robustly by the courts and should act as a deterrent to others.'
Deceitful: Hussain hoped his family would pay a ransom to ensure his safety
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