A hoaxer who called emergency services during the first firefighters' strike was caught after making the bogus call from his own mobile phone.

Sean Whitby, 18, who also reported the fake fire as being at his home address, has been warned he faces jail for the offence.

At a hearing at Leicester Magistrates' Court on Monday, Whitby admitted making the call.

Prosecutor Olwyn Davies told the court the teenager, from Humberstone, Leicester, made the call in a bid to earn respect from his friends.

Fake name

The court was told that emergency services received a call at about 0300 on 15 November.

Whitby gave his name as Mark Little, but then gave his own address and when police went to the scene they found no fire.

The number on which the call had been made was traced to Whitby and he eventually admitted the offence.

'Very guilty'

Ross Fitzpatrick, defending, said Whitby, bitterly regretted what he had done.

"He knows it was wrong and feels very guilty," she said.

Magistrates adjourned the case until 7 January for pre-sentence reports, but warned Whitby he could face up to three months in jail.