A hoax caller, who posed as a doctor and told eight families their child had died, has been jailed for 16 weeks.
The court heard how Ashley Dodd from Warwickshire has been “messing around” while on 6 hour drinking binges and rang his victims claiming to work for local George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton.
The 28-year old pleaded guilty to eight offences under the Malicious Communications Act, admitting he chose victims at random from a phone book.
Nuneaton Magistrates' Court said his actions caused families "shock and devastation", with some taking several hours to trace their children to find they were unharmed.
Det Con Michelle Russell, of Warwickshire Police, said the calls were "extremely upsetting" for the victims, saying:
"We are pleased that Mr Dodd has been brought to justice and hope it will bring some comfort to the families.”
