AN “attention seeking” Ipswich teenager today faces a community order after wasting police time - and thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money.

AN “attention seeking” Ipswich teenager today faces a community order after wasting police time - and thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money.

Lisa Blackwell, of Cowslip Close, falsely claimed she was assaulted and her child abducted, resulting in a lengthy and expensive police investigation.

She had previously pleaded guilty at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court to a charge of wasting police time.

The 18-year-old claimed that between April 20 and May 5 of this year she was assaulted and her two-year-old daughter was abducted.

Suffolk police carried out a lengthy probe costing the constabulary a total of �5,086.78, through man hours and the use of facilities.

The police helicopter was deployed to try and find the man who she alleged had stabbed her, panic alarms were installed in her home and she received a police guard during the period.

Lyndon Davies, mitigating, said his client, who was 17 when the offence was committed, had been “attention seeking”.

He said: “She appears before this court as a young lady who has learnt a sobering lesson.

“It got out of hand and continued down that path until its conclusion, ending up in court.

“It is refreshing she has got to the point where she accepts what she has done. She understands the consequences of her actions.”

Sentencing yesterday, chairman of the bench Susan Henney said Blackwell would not face prison but would instead be subject to a 12-month community order.

She will have to undertake 225 hours of unpaid work and pay �500 compensation to Suffolk Police.