A man who made a hoax call and was ‘rescued’ from a quarry in Snowdonia after faking an accident, has been jailed for 16 months.

Michael Cuminskey, 23, from Darlington, had been climbing in the Vivian Quarry in Llanberis, when he was found at the bottom of a 130ft drop claiming to have hurt his back.

A team of twenty mountain rescue volunteers went to his aid and he was taken by a rescue helicopter where he tried to take a selfie on his phone.

He was flown to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor where he was uncooperative, he later said he was going to the toilet, and simply walked out of the hospital.

Cuminskey pleaded guilty to two charges of causing a public nuisance, the judge at Caernarfon Crown Court heard that days earlier Cuminskey had claimed to have fallen while walking in the Lake District, he told rescuers he could not feel his legs and was evacuated by helicopter, but it was forced to land after he became aggressive towards the crew, the court heard that he had previously been convicted of a similar offence in Scotland.

Thoroughly Ashamed

North Wales Police said his actions were “unforgivable” and welcomed the sentence.

Cuminskey’s defence barrister Jonathan Austin told the court his client was a “troubled young man” who “craved affection and support”.

But judge Huw Rees said only a custodial sentence was appropriate to send a message to other potential hoaxers.

He told Cuminskey he should be “thoroughly ashamed”.

He protested violently as attempts were made to remove him from the dock.

Speaking after the case, PC Gethin Jones from North Wales Police said hoax calls not only “show a lack of respect for the emergency services” but divert staff and volunteers from genuine emergencies.

The rescue cost over £32,000

“This particular incident is estimated to have cost the public purse over £32,000 which is unforgivable,” he said.

The search and rescue helicopter was dealing with this particular incident where it could have been needed elsewhere on a genuine life-saving call.”

Phil Benbow, chairman of the North Wales Mountain Rescue Association, said as charities, the teams “rely solely on voluntary contributions to remain operational” and maintaining a high level of service is a “costly affair”.

“Any unnecessary call on our resources carries a significant impact, and we welcome today’s sentencing,” he said.