Two fined for false kidnap claims
TWO people pleaded guilty and received $500 fines in Tweed Heads Local Court yesterday for falsely representing a kidnapping to police that led to an investigation.
Luke Singleton, 26, and Renee Clements, 21, both from Tweed Heads West accused Shane Dawes of kidnapping them when police found the three in a car on Kennedy Dr with three cannabis plants.
A security guard at Banora Point saw Mr Dawes with the plants and tipped of the police.
Both Singleton and Clements claimed that Mr Dawes said he was collecting some clothing, but had returned to the car with three cannabis plants.
When they were questioned by police, both Singleton and Clements said that Mr Dawes had threatened them with a knife and they were in the car against their will.
Magistrate Michael Dakin said the kidnapping story was not done on impulse and that some forward planning was made.
“They said they had been threatened and agreed to convey him to the location,” Magistrate Dakin said.
“In each case I don’t accept that this was impulsive and that some planning was made.”
“There are limited resources and the demand on their (police) time is very high.”
Mr Dawes was not charged in relation to the false report to police.
