Redbridge Police have fined a 23-year-old man for wasting police time after he falsely claimed he was robbed at knifepoint.

The man claimed he was robbed by three men with a knife on Monday (27), saying they took �130.

Police spent four hours investigating the allegation but CCTV footage proved the allegation was false.

DI Craig Robinson said “We take allegations of robbery very seriously and each one is investigated thoroughly.

“Where the allegation is proved to be false and our time is wasted, we will take action against the person making the false claim.”

The man has been given an �80 penalty notice for disorder.