The 32-year-old claimed he
was being held hostage and his "captor" would only release him if a
£50 debt was paid.
The woman was "beside
herself" and called police after speaking to his "kidnapper" on
the phone and receiving a number of text messages.
But her boyfriend was in
fact enjoying himself at a house party in Bolton in the early hours.
One detective said it was
"one of the most foolish and irresponsible incidents" she had
encountered.
After the alarm was raised,
more than a dozen officers carried out house-to-house enquiries, checked CCTV
and analysed mobile phone data in an attempt to find him.
A number of properties were
searched and a man was arrested on suspicion of kidnap.
But he was later released
when he admitted it was a "ruse" to allow his friend to stay out
longer.
Greater
Manchester Police then tracked
down the man at the party in Shurmer Street shortly before 1.30am on Saturday.
Detective
Inspector Jo Clawson said: "The man's girlfriend was absolutely beside
herself with worry and genuinely concerned that he would come to harm.
"Considerable
resources and time then went into finding this man, who it transpires made the
entire thing up so he could stay out and party.
"This
is without doubt one of the most foolish and irresponsible incidents I have
been involved in.
"Significant
resources were taken off the front line on a Friday night, which is without
exception one of the busiest times of the week."
She
added he was "fortunate" to not have been charged but officers
decided not to waste more police resources and public money by putting him
through the court system.
Instead
he was given a fixed penalty notice for wasting police time and the matter was
recorded as a criminal conviction on his record.
Naughty
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