A teenager has been spared jail after sparking a police investigation by claiming he was stabbed by a group of thugs, when he actually hurt himself by falling into a canal he had tried to jump across.

The 19-year-old was so embarrassed, he made up the story and called officers in order to avoid telling his family the truth about his failed stunt, West Midlands Police said. He was fined £80 for wasting police time.

Officers released a video they found of the incident on his stepfather's phone. The teenager, whom officers have not named, can be seen misjudging the width of the canal in Dudley. He fell short of the towpath, smashing his chin on the floor and falling backwards into the canal.