A man who has been found guilty of making multiple hoax calls to Stornoway Coastguard has been jailed for four months.
Alasdair Munro, 55, from Kyleakin, Skye, was found guilty after trial at Portree Sheriff Court.
The court heard Mr Munro called the coastguards a number of times on 30 October 2013 claiming that a yacht was lost in Loch Hourn.
Munro maintained he had spoken to someone on VHF radio stating that they were lost in Loch Hourn.
Mallaig lifeboat and Kyle coastguard rescue reams searched for the vessel but found nothing.
In court, Munro apologised for what he had done.
Sheriff Scott said it was an extremely serious offence.
Jackie Mackenzie, HM Coastguard, said:
"The important thing is that the hoax caller was found and punished.
"HM Coastguard fully supports the action of the police and the court in dealing with
this offence. Hoax calls can, and in this case did tie up a valuable maritime Search
and Rescue resource.
"Those who risk their own safety to rescue others should also
not be put at needless risk in responding to hoax distress calls."
Skye hoax caller jailed
31 August 2015