The owner of a north-east mixed martial arts gym has been fined after he pretended to police his car had been stolen.
Chris Farman appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday, and admitted wasting police time by reporting his Mercedes had been stolen between August 22 and 23 last year.
The court heard that it had been involved in an accident.
And police soon established that thieves had not taken the 30-year-old’s car.
Yesterday, the court heard the businessman’s friend had taken the car and fled the scene as he did not have a licence.
Fiscal depute Lynzi Souter, said: “The vehicle mentioned in the charge was involved in an incident whereby police became involved.
“Members of the public contacted police to say there had been an accident and were concerned about occupants of the vehicle.
“The next day, on August 23, the accused contacted Police Scotland and reported his vehicle had been stolen.”
But Mrs Souter added following door to door inquiries and DNA tests, it became clear the report of the vehicle’s theft “was in fact false”.
She said: “The accused was subsequently cautioned and charged for this offence. The total police time wasted by the accused approximately three hours.”
Farman, of 4 Cove Court, Aberdeen, admitted his actions “did temporarily deprive the public” of two constables.
Solicitor Gregor Kelly said: “It is a source of great regret to Mr Forman that he did conduct himself in this manner.
“Mr Forman mentioned he was elsewhere when the car was taken. He accepts the seriousness of the position he is in.”
Mr Kelly said Farman worked with the Salvation Army, and also with “children from deprived areas” at his gym, the Aberdeen Fitness and Combat Centre.
He added: “He prides himself on being an honest man, however clearly that left him in this occasion. Hopefully he has learned his lesson.”
Sheriff Margaret Hodge described it is a “serious matter” and fined Farman £300.
