Police spent days trying to track down a vulnerable mother and her baby in a countywide search.

But as social services, hospitals and police joined the large-scale hunt it became clear they didn't even exist.

Homeless David Fry appeared in Maidstone magistrates' court after he was charged for wasting police time, and was sentenced to 90 days in custody.

The 23-year-old was in Maidstone on Saturday when he called 999 and claimed his wife and one-year-old child were missing.

The hoax caller, who used a different name to make the emergency call, said his partner was on medication but didn’t always take it.

The manhunt involving social services, hospitals and officers across Kent, with police spending two days investigating Fry’s claims until inconsistencies began to show.

He was arrested on Monday.

PC Chris Waterfall from Kent Police said: “As a result of this man’s report, a lot of time was spent conducting checks across the country trying to locate a woman and baby who it transpired didn’t actually exist.

“That time could have been better spent solving crimes and dealing with genuine victims.

"The magistrates have recognised the seriousness of this time-wasting by sending Fry to prison.”