A GREENOCK woman who wasted police time by fabricating an assault and robbery report following an all night drinking session has been given an unpaid work order.

Sarah Phillips concocted a fake story alleging that she had been the victim of an attack, leading officers on a wild goose chase investigating the spurious claim.

The false tale left Inverclyde short of half a dozen constables and three police vehicles before Phillips confessed that she had made up the 'incident' having awoken at a friend's house with no money to get home.

The 41-year-old was handed a community payback order at Greenock Sheriff Court on Wednesday despite the offence reaching the custody threshold.

A previous hearing was told that Phillips claimed she had been kicked on the head and robbed of her purse by two alleged perpetrators in Gourock on July 31 two years ago.

A procurator fiscal depute said: "She passed a description of the persons involved and three double-crewed police response vehicles attended due to the nature of the allegation.

"This meant that there were no free response vehicles available to attend any ongoing incidents.

"She told police that a male and a female approached her, asked for money and alcohol and proceeded to pull her hair, punch and kick her."

The prosecutor said CCTV footage was requested from around the nearby area and door-to-door enquiries were carried out.

The fiscal depute added: "She was visibly upset at this point.

"She provided further details regarding the incident and said she was on Hillside Road the night before.

"She was driven to that location, though she then had no recollection."

Phillips was taken to the police office to provide a DNA sample and a statement but 'became emotional' and said she didn't want to go and wanted to get her medication, the court heard.

After speaking 'at length' to police, she eventually admitted that she had not been robbed and that the two alleged perpetrators did not exist.

The prosecutor said: "She said she had been at a friend's house drinking and smoking and had cheated on her partner.

"Waking up embarrassed she concocted the story and said she didn't have any money for a lift home.

"She told police she was sorry for wasting their time."

Solicitor Gerry Keenan told a sentencing hearing that first offender Phillips, of Wren Road, apologises for the offence.

Mr Keenan said: "She had taken too much to drink and in that intoxicated state she made the call."

Describing her behaviour as 'absolutely unacceptable', Sheriff James Varney said Phillips 'put a lot of people to a lot of trouble that day'.

She was ordered to complete 135 hours of unpaid work within 12 months.