'Fake flood fireman' from Liverpool arrested

Jul 29 2007

flood

A 49-year-old man has been accused of impersonating a firefighter in a town hit by severe flooding, police said today.

The alleged hoaxer rang up the fire service and alerted them to what he claimed was severe flooding on a road in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire.

He is then alleged to have arrived at the scene in full uniform and driving a car with flashing blue lights, but the decepetion was discovered when a Merseyside Fire and Rescue officer, who saw him on TV, realised his uniform was a fake.

The man appeared at Stroud Magistrates Court earlier this week charged with obstructing an emergency worker and was remanded in custody.

A force spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that there has been an incident involving a man impersonating a low-ranking firefighter during the recent flooding problems affecting Gloucestershire.

“As a result, a 49-year-old Liverpool man was arrested on Wednesday, July 25 and charged with obstructing/hindering an emergency worker.

“He subsequently appeared before magistrates and was remanded in custody.”

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1 WEATHER Floods Hoax

MAN ACCUSED OF IMPERSONATING FIREFIGHTER

By Nick Foley, PA

A 49-year-old man has been accused of impersonating a firefighter in a town hit by severe flooding, police said today.

The alleged hoaxer rang up the fire service and alerted them to what he claimed was severe flooding on a road in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire.

He is then alleged to have arrived at the scene in full uniform and driving a car with flashing blue lights, but the decepetion was discovered when a Merseyside Fire and Rescue officer, who saw him on TV, realised his uniform was a fake.

The man appeared at Stroud Magistrates Court earlier this week charged with obstructing an emergency worker and was remanded in custody.

A force spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that there has been an incident involving a man impersonating a low-ranking firefighter during the recent flooding problems affecting Gloucestershire.

“As a result, a 49-year-old Liverpool man was arrested on Wednesday, July 25 and charged with obstructing/hindering an emergency worker.

“He subsequently appeared before magistrates and was remanded in custody.”