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Fisherman fined over false assault claim

Fisherman fined over false assault claim

A fisherman was fined yesterday after lying to police by claiming he was the victim of an attack so he could get a lift in their car.

Matthew McAtasney, 19, falsely claimed he had been assaulted by Mark Meadows and Taylor Mills after being approached by 12 men on a street.

The teenager, whose address was given in court papers as Howatt Park, Sandhaven, was on Constitution Street in Peterhead on June 11 last year when he contacted police to say he had been repeatedly punched and kicked.

He appeared at Peterhead Sheriff Court yesterday and admitted a charge of wasting police time.

Fiscal depute Ruaridh McAlister told the court that officers called to the scene realised that the story was “made up” and that the teenager was hoping they would take him home.

Mr McAlister said: “On June 11 last year he gave a statement to the police claiming he had approached by 12 men, including the two named in the charges, and they had punched and kicked him.  It totalled 30 strikes.

“He said he was assaulted again and had been punched a further 10 times.

“Police heard the allegations and thought they were made up and suspected he was just trying to get a lift back to Fraserburgh.”

Mr McAlister said McAtasney was taken to hospital to be checked over, but no injuries were found on his body.

He said officers spent almost seven hours on the investigation and the trip to accident and emergency as well as another four hours taking witness statements.

Defence agent Sam Milligan said it was foolish of the teenager to have called the police when no crime had actually happened.

Mr Milligan said: “He is 19 and works as a deckhand on a local fishing vessel.

“It was a fairly harebrained scheme on his part and the suspicions of experienced officers were raised straight away.

“The date of the offence is now over its first anniversary and he has nothing further to come before this or any other court.”

Sheriff Robert McDonald fined McAtasney £500.