Man who claimed he was knifed by a clown issued fixed penalty notice
A man who claimed he was slashed with a knife by a clown has been issued with a fixed penalty notice for wasting police time.
Simon Chinery, 28, from Blackburn, Lancashire, said the incident had "ruined his life" after he said he suffered slash injuries to his right hand.
The father of one told reporters he was confronted at a cash machine in the town by a knife-wielding man wearing a green curly wig with black eye make-up, a red nose and painted red beard.
He said the blade cut through his hand when he tried to defend himself but it has now emerged the injury was sustained when he fell on broken glass.
In a statement Lancashire Police said: "After looking into this report we have established that the man was not attacked by a clown and had in fact injured his hand falling on broken glass.
"We are aware that widespread media coverage of this allegation may have been unsettling for local residents and we would like to reassure the public that no crime has taken place on this occasion.
"We have now issued a 28-year-old man from Blackburn with a penalty notice for wasting police time.
"We work extremely hard investigating serious crime and our time needs to remain focused on genuine incidents."