A Swindon man who called the police reporting that he had been the victim of an arson attack last year has admitted he made the incident up.
Jamie Brewer, now of Cherry Orchard Lane, Salisbury, phoned 999 on 3 March 2020 to report that someone had set fire to the door mat outside his flat door in Russell Walk.
The 28-year-old was later charged with causing wasteful employment of police after CCTV revealed that there had been no fire or, in fact, an incident of any nature.
Prosecutor Tom Power said the cost of the investigation had been in the thousands of pounds, but the exact amount was not confirmed in court.
Brewer pleaded guilty to the offence. He will be sentenced in March.