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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Police warning after Brand 'hoax' | Police warning after Brand 'hoax' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Police have warned people against making "hoax or frivolous calls" after an on-stage prank by comedian Russell Brand directed at a crime hotline. | Police have warned people against making "hoax or frivolous calls" after an on-stage prank by comedian Russell Brand directed at a crime hotline. |
| The star rang the number during a performance in Northampton and said he had spotted a man who might be responsible for a series of assaults. | The star rang the number during a performance in Northampton and said he had spotted a man who might be responsible for a series of assaults. |
| "I have seen a gentleman who fits the description," said Brand, who was pretending to be a woman. | "I have seen a gentleman who fits the description," said Brand, who was pretending to be a woman. |
| Northamptonshire Police would not say if action would be taken against Brand. | Northamptonshire Police would not say if action would be taken against Brand. |
| But a spokesman said the force would "discourage" any communication with police hotlines which was not genuine. | But a spokesman said the force would "discourage" any communication with police hotlines which was not genuine. |
| 'Polka dot trousers' | 'Polka dot trousers' |
| Video footage of the concert has been posted on YouTube. | Video footage of the concert has been posted on YouTube. |
| During the call, which lasted about three minutes, the police employee asked why there was laughter in the background. | During the call, which lasted about three minutes, the police employee asked why there was laughter in the background. |
| Brand said the noise - from the audience at the Royal and Derngate theatre - was from an episode of police drama The Bill, which was showing on his television. | Brand said the noise - from the audience at the Royal and Derngate theatre - was from an episode of police drama The Bill, which was showing on his television. |
| He made the call in response to media coverage of a number of recent attacks in underpasses in Northampton. | He made the call in response to media coverage of a number of recent attacks in underpasses in Northampton. |
| Brand described the man he had seen as "wearing a lime green top and polka dot trousers. | Brand described the man he had seen as "wearing a lime green top and polka dot trousers. |
| "I thought, 'Well, look at the state of him'." | "I thought, 'Well, look at the state of him'." |
| The employee ended the call after the star asked her out for dinner and began to sing down the phone. | The employee ended the call after the star asked her out for dinner and began to sing down the phone. |
| Audience member Hannah Gee, 24, from Northampton said she thought the show was "hilarious" but could understand why the police had issued a warning about the act. | Audience member Hannah Gee, 24, from Northampton said she thought the show was "hilarious" but could understand why the police had issued a warning about the act. |
| "I can see where they're coming from, because it's a Saturday night and it's a busy time for the police," she said. | "I can see where they're coming from, because it's a Saturday night and it's a busy time for the police," she said. |
| "Personally, I knew it was part of the act and it was amusing, but I must admit at the time I thought it was a bit close to the bone," she added. | "Personally, I knew it was part of the act and it was amusing, but I must admit at the time I thought it was a bit close to the bone," she added. |
| "I can see how it might have caused offence to some people." |