Claudia hoaxer: Police welcome jail sentence (From York Press)

Claudia hoaxer: Police welcome jail sentence

10:00am Wednesday 6th April 2011 in Claudia Lawrence By Jennifer Bell, jennifer.bell@thepress.co.uk

Updated:THE detective leading the hunt for missing York chef Claudia Lawrence has welcomed the sentencing of a “callous” hoaxer who told police he had buried her body.

Former York man Richard O’Rourke, 48, was jailed for wasting police time after he sent text messages to a police officer and a barmaid, saying he had buried Claudia’s body in The Outgang, Heslington.

The actions of O’Rourke, of Keddington Avenue in Lincoln, sparked a wild goose chase for police who spent four days – the equivalent of 390 hours of police time at a cost of £13,500 - on a search, but nothing was found.

He was jailed for 18 months on Monday.

Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway said: “This was a particularly callous and determined provision of misinformation to the team investigating Claudia Lawrence’s disappearance.

“As well as resulting in a number of days being wasted searching the Outgang in York, it also caused unnecessary anguish for Claudia’s family.

“Once it was established that O’Rourke was the source of the misinformation and that he had malicious intent he was pursued with regard to his wasting of police time.

“I welcome his conviction and imprisonment.”

As reported in The Press yesterday, on March 18 last year O’Rourke texted barmaid Allison Hall, saying: “I know where Claudia Lawrence is buried. YO10 5EF.

“I’ve just told you where she is. Third field after the sports field. I put her there. The Outgang in Heslington, York.”

The next day he texted PC Jane Pickworth and repeated the address, telling her: “You’re next.”