Matthew McAtasney, 19, claimed to have been kicked and punched last year.

But at Peterhead Sheriff Court in Scotland this week, he admitted a charge of wasting police time.

Depute fiscal Ruaridh McAlister told the court that officers who attended the scene realised the story had been fabricated by McAtasney in the hopes they would take him home, the Press & Journal reports.

Mr McAlister said: “On June 11 last year he gave a statement to the police claiming he had been approached by 12 men, including the two named in the charges, and they had punched and kicked him. It totalled 30 strikes.

“He said he was assaulted again and had been punched a further 10 times. Police heard the allegations and thought they were made up and suspected he was just trying to get a lift back to Fraserburgh.”

His defence solicitor, Sam Milligan, said the teenager’s actions were foolish and Sheriff Robert McDonald fined him £500.