A man wasted valuable emergency services' resources after making a false claim that there had been a stabbing.

Seven police officers and an ambulance were dispatched to an address in Dewsbury following the 999 call made by Lee Matthewman.

At Kirklees Magistrates’ Court the 29-year-old admitted a charge of wasting police time.

The incident happened at 11pm on March 20, prosecutor Andy Wills said.

He told the Huddersfield court: “Police were dispatched to a report by an unknown caller that two men were fighting in the area, with a knife possibly involved and somebody may have been stabbed.

“This call was made from a mobile and seven police officers and an ambulance were dispatched.

“A search was made and there was no sign of a disturbance or a victim.”

The Huddersfield court heard that the local hospital was put on standby to assist with a person who may be in a critical condition.

Police arrived at Matthewman’s home in Church Lane, Thornhill, after a check of the Police National Computer linked the mobile number used to make the call to him.

They found Matthewman, who had been drinking, in the living room.

He produced his mobile phone which he had hidden under the sofa.

He said that he had removed the battery to stop the officers from tracing him.

Mr Wills said; “He accepted he made the call and knew it was false and was wasting the police service.

“He said he had been drinking lager all day and night and accepted that nobody got stabbed”.

Magistrates sentenced Matthewman to a community order with six months of alcohol treatment.

He must also pay £85 costs and £60 victim surcharge.