An Australian man who faked his own kidnapping was forced to pay for wasting police time.

Paul Iera faked his own kidnapping so he could spend more time with his mistress. Photo: NINE NEWS

An Australian man who faked his own kidnapping to cheat on his girlfriend has been ordered to pay police compensation for the time spent searching for him.

‌Paul Iera hatched an unlikely plot to carry out the past New Year's Eve with his mistress.

‌The 35-year-old merchant then sent his girlfriend a fake ransom message with a mistake, allegedly from a gang of ruthless kidnappers from the Middle East.

‌“But I'm going to be paid (sic). We will keep him until the morning until he (sic) gives us his bike… we call it square, no one touches it.”

‌‌This message caused panic in his girlfriend, who called the police . Specialist officers launched an urgent search, spending a total of 200 hours on the case, costing the Australian taxpayer approximately A$25,000 (£13,000).

Another charge

1 January, the next day following the alleged kidnapping, they intercepted Iera's white van in his hometown of Wollongong in New South Wales.

‌Believing he was inside as a hostage, they removed a “high-risk vehicle.” stop» but found only Iera in the car.

‌He was later arrested and charged with making a false accusation with intent to subject another person to investigation.

‌Michael Ong, Wollongong Local Court judge, said that Iera's actions were «motivated by the least compelling reason» he had ever seen in a criminal case.

‌“You decided to send disturbing, scary messages to your partner so that you could spend more time with your other partner,” he said.

Correctional order

Jera could have been sent to prison for up to seven years, but instead she was told to pay A$16,218 (£8,506). ) to the NSW Government as compensation for police time and resources.

‌He was also given a three-year community corrections order and ordered to carry out 350 hours of community service.

‌ “You are at the point where you have to make a choice,” the judge said. «You will either take a step back, look at yourself and your circumstances and begin to move forward, or, alternatively, you will find yourself in a situation where imprisonment is a very realistic option.»

‌Iera's lawyer said that he was relieved to have avoided jail time.

‌ “Since committing the crime, Mr. Iera has made tremendous progress in his rehabilitation,” Abbas Suki said.