Nursery school worker who raised major alarm after fake 999 call over fake kayaking incident faces jail

A nursery school worker has been warned she could face jail for making a false 999 call about a fictional kayaking accident.

Clair Frost, 35, launched a massive search operation on Loch Tay in freezing conditions for an overturned kayak.

But emergency services began to suspect the call was a hoax after a six-hour search turned up nothing.

Frost was eventually arrested after the call was traced to a phone in a changing room at Killin Nursery School in Perthshire.

She denied making a false alarm from a landline at the nursery, but the caller’s “distinctive, higher-pitched and childish” tone was identified as hers by two colleagues and a police officer who had all known her for years.

Stirling Sheriff Court heard that police, an ambulance, a paramedic and firefighters were sent to the scene after receiving the call on January 17 this year.

A helicopter was also dispatched, while police checked rest areas near the lake for vehicles, as well as nearby hotels and campsites.

After deciding that the call must be a hoax, the call was traced back to the daycare.

Police initially believed a child at the facility – which caters to children ages 0-5 and does not have a view of the lake – might be responsible.

The village police officer, Iona Frickleton, even sat down with the children and asked them if any of them had used the phone that day. One of the boys raised his hand and said yes.

Police Officer Frickleton said: “His parents were present and it was established he was playing with a toy phone.”

Giving evidence, Constable Frickleton said she had listened to a recording of the call and was “100 per cent sure” the voice was that of Frost, whom she had known for eight years.

A nappy change log identified Frost as being in the room at the time of the call, and after two other nursery staff also identified her voice, she was arrested.

At Falkirk police station, Frost admitted that her husband was a committed firefighter and had been called out as part of the search, but denied any financial difficulties and denied that he had gained any financial benefit from the call.

After police played him the recording, Frost admitted, with tears in his eyes: “It sounds like me, I can’t deny it. But it’s not me.”

Frost, from Killin, who has worked in a nursery for 15 years, denied making a false call to the emergency services – a breach of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 – but did not give evidence.

After a summary trial lasting two and a quarter hours, Sheriff Clair McLachlan told Frost that she found all of the Crown’s witnesses entirely credible and reliable and found Frost guilty.

Sheriff McLachlan said: “Two civilian witnesses and a police officer who have all known you for years have unequivocally identified you as the caller.

“This evidence is supported by circumstantial evidence that places you in the exchange room at the relevant time.”

Postponing sentencing until October 2 for reports, she warned Frost: “Even though this is a first offence, it is a very serious offence.

“The rescue operation launched following this false call was a huge waste of manpower and resources and potentially put the population at risk.

“It is only fair to warn you that for these reasons I cannot rule out the possibility of a prison sentence.”

Detective Gavin Dingwall, who led the police interview of Frost, said he was “baffled” as to why Frost committed the offence.