A farmer who previously started a £300,000 fire as an act of revenge has found himself back in court and admitted wasting police time by making false 999 calls.
Ryan Milne had a drunken falling out with a group of friends and decided to call 999 to accuse them of crimes.
He first claimed a friend was drink-driving, then called back a few minutes later to accuse him of punching a woman.
It’s not the first time the 24-year-old has broken the law to get back at someone.
In April he admitted torching a man’s farm in revenge for being thrown out of Thainstone Mart.
Milne set fire to an outbuilding at Waulkmill Farm, a 405-acre site in Rothienorman where the auctioneer who ejected him out lives, causing £300,000 of damage.
Fiscal depute Kiril Bonavino told Aberdeen Sheriff Court in the latest incident Milne dialled 999 at 1.29am on August 23 2020.
He gave his name as “Thomas” and stated he’d seen another man, called Shane, “driving while under the influence of alcohol”.
Milne also provided police with the phone number for the real Thomas.
Police officers were dispatched to search for the alleged drink-driver.
But just three minutes later, Milne again phoned 999, again pretending to be Thomas, and this time stating he’d witnessed Shane punching a female in the face.
Police then contacted the real Thomas, who denied having called them and said that Milne had earlier had an argument with Shane.
At 9am the same day, officers spoke to Shane and the woman, who confirmed they had not been involved in any kind of assault and that there had been an argument with Milne.
Milne, of Forgue, Huntly, pled guilty to wasting police time.
Defence agent Graham Morrison said his client and the other people involved were “old friends”.
‘This was a stupid mistake’
He explained they had all been drinking together and got into a “fight”.
Mr Morrison said: “Usually, this ends up with one of them saying sorry and being friends again.
“On this occasion, when he left, Shane said he’d call the police.
“He got home and worried about it and thought he’d counter it by calling the police himself.”
Sheriff Lesley Johnston told Milne: “This was a stupid mistake on your behalf and a grave error of judgment.”
She ordered him to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work, adding: “I hope that this appearance in court and the sentence has taught you a valuable lesson.”
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