RNLI volunteer who made hoax calls to Coastguard avoids jail
Leon Marandola has been ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work and was given a two-year supervision order.
A lifeboat volunteer has avoided custody after making multiple hoax calls to the Coastguard.
Leon Marandola admitted earlier this year to making 19 false calls between June and August 2019.
The 20-year-old joined the RNLI Buckie team as a volunteer in May 2019.
He's been ordered today to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work and given a two-year supervision order.
A restriction of liberty order has also been imposed.
HM Coastguard say the calls led to helicopters, Coastguard Rescue Officers and RNLI lifeboats being sent out - with the total cost in the region of £170,000.
Coastal Operations Area Commander Ross Greenhill said: "Hoax calls are taken extremely seriously as they tie up vital life-saving resources and risk taking them away from those who are actually in grave danger which could have serious consequences.
"As in this case, we will always work with the relevant authorities to fully investigate and seek a prosecution if we suspect hoax calls are being made.
"This case stands out because the offender is someone who wanted to work alongside emergency services to help people and prevent loss of life at sea. Each time he made a false report, he put the safety of his fellow volunteers at the RNLI and HM Coastguard at risk and let down his local community.
"We hope the sentencing today makes others think twice before making false calls to any of the emergency services. Putting the lives of members of the public and of emergency services colleagues at risk will never be tolerated."