A TEENAGER faked his own kidnapping in an attempt to get money from his mother and younger sister, Jedburgh Sheriff Court has been told.

Nineteen-year-old Greg Lowrie sent text messages to his mum Shirley saying he had been abducted and demanded £250 as ransom money.

Other messages received by his mother and sister warned he would be killed if the matter was reported to the police.

The mother paid £40 into an account which Lowrie had access to but she also reported the matter to the police who soon established there had been no abduction.

Lowrie of Burnfoot Road, Hawick, pleaded guilty to a charge of obtaining £40 by fraud by sending the messages to his mother and sister saying he had been abducted on September 27 and demanding money.

Defence lawyer Ed Hulme said his client had been struggling with cocaine addiction and at the time of the offence had suffered a relapse.

He said: “He had over committed himself and resorted to this to try and get some money.

“It must have been extremely concerning for his family.”

Sheriff Peter Paterson said: “It is a very unusual set of facts. I’m not entirely sure what is going on here.”

Lowrie was fined £300 and ordered to pay his mother £90 in compensation and his sister £50 and a £20 victim surcharge.