A FIFTEEN-year-old boy from North Swindon has admitted that he lied to police when he claimed he had been robbed as he walked between Redhouse and Oakhurst on crutches.

Earlier this month, there was great concern in the community that an obviously injured boy could be punched in the chest and have to fight off three attackers who were allegedly trying to steal his bag.

Following investigation by the Swindon Priority Crime Team, and information gathered by the North Swindon NPT, it became clear that there were discrepancies in his evidence.

The teenager was then questioned by detectives from Gablecross Police Station, and he admitted that he had made the story up because he had lost his crutches after playing football.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been given a verbal warning by officers for making false allegations to the police. 

Detective Constable Claire Watts said the boy had been left in no doubt of the seriousness of this lie, which has tied up valuable police resources. 

She said: "False claims divert valuable resources away from genuine crime victims who may need our help. We are committed to thoroughly investigating all reports, which does mean that any inconsistencies will be uncovered. Robbery is a very serious crime, and can be extremely distressing to the injured party. I would always encourage genuine victims to come forward."

If you have been the victim of crime, you can contact Wiltshire Police on 101.