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A Manchester lorry driver, who faked an attempted hijack of his vehicle, which sparked a massive police operation, was fined £1,000 at Perth Sheriff's court. David Bebbington, of Darliston Avenue, Blackley, Manchester, admitted the offence. Janine Bates, prosecuting, said Bebbington had told police he had bravely fought off a gang of masked men who had tried to steal his vehicle, belonging to Garic, of Bury, and which was loaded with fuel pumps, in a lay-by off the A90 near Dundee.

He claimed  to have brawled with the gang and eventually forced them to flee in a Ford Focus. Police cars were dispatched from Crieff, Kinross, Blairgowrie and Dundee to set up watch on the A9, M90, A94 and A90 major routes. Tayside Police alerted other forces around the country to look out for the getaway car.

However, it became apparent the next day that there were suspicions over elements of Bebbington's story. CCTV footage showed no evidence to substantiate his allegations, and Bebbington admitted that he had made it all up.

For Bebbington, David Holmes said he still found it hard to provide a rational explanation for his behaviour. The strains and stresses of the various burdens he was carrying became too much for him. The Sheriff clearly took a serious view of Bebbington's conduct, the cost to the police as a result of his conduct being a considerable one.