Man fined for 'eight sausages' phone call

A British man who rang 999 to report he had lost eight sausages has been fined.

Mark Holbrook, 47, dialled the police a number of times while drunk and first of all he told them he had taken eight hostages.

But just before the officers could "press the panic button" he rang back to say he'd actually lost eight sausages, the Kent and Sussex Courier reports.

Prosecutor James Nichols said: "Police warned him not to ring again and it was not the way to use 999. He then phoned back again to say, 'No it's okay, I've found them.' "

But Andrew Main, defending, said Holbrook had drunk more than usual after hearing of his mum's death.

He was handed a £65 fine, and ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs.