A MAN who sparked an armed police response on Canvey has avoided prison.

Martin Webb, 22, dialled 999, gave a fake name and said his friend Martin Webb had a gun and had lost his temper.

Prosecutor Ian Allen, speaking at Southend Magistrates’ Court, explained: “The caller purported to be a David Clifford.

“He advised the operator his friend, who he named to be Martin Webb, had lost his temper and had produced a gun, and that the male had left the property stating ‘somebody is going to pay’.

“The caller further stated Mr Webb was unstable at the moment, going through a tough time.

“That was of course of great concern to the police and an armed unit was dispatched.”

They were called to Point Road, Canvey, at about 1am on July 23, thinking they may have to disarm him.

But they spotted Webb in Chapman Road, and he identified himself before being arrested.

In police interview he admitted what he had done, and later pleaded guilty to wasting police time.

Instead of jailing Webb, the court decided to give him a year-long community order with 150 hours unpaid work.

He must also pay £100 costs which will be deducted from his benefits.

Mr Allen told magistrates he could not put a price on how much the armed operation had cost.

He said: “I can’t give you a figure that represents the wasted time police were put to, but it was a relatively short operation and in the circumstances it might not be relevant to your consideration.”

Webb, previously of Chapman Road, Canvey, gave a new address to the court in Queensmere, Hadleigh.

Paul Whyte, representing Webb, said: “He’s currently without a home address, but staying with his father.”