Police searched train tracks in freezing conditions for a man who claimed he was about to kill himself.

But Nicholas Walker, 51, was safe at home in Deeside when he called police and Wales Ambulance Service on March 1.

Justin Espie, prosecuting at Wrexham Magistrates Court, said Walker told the Welsh Ambulance Service he was going to jump in front of a train.

He also called Cheshire Constabulary and in a redirected call to North Wales Police said he was on train tracks near the Talacre/Mostyn signal box in Flintshire.

Mr Espie said officers were deployed, but Walker then told police he was in Crewe, meaning officers were looking out for him, before telling a Cheshire Constabulary control room operative that he was at home.

Walker was said to be calm and unharmed when officers arrived at his home in Leaches Lane, Mancot.

When asked why he had made the calls, he told police: “I don’t know, because I’m pathetic.”

The nightshift retail worker told police he had drunk two bottles of wine and half a bottle of vodka.

Magistrates heard seven North Wales Police officers and PCSOs were deployed to search for Walker in Mostyn, some of whom made their way down to the tracks.

The calls posed an unnecessary risk to each of the officers deployed and clearly wasted significant police resources, not only in North Wales but also in Cheshire.

Mr Espie invited magistrates to impose a criminal behavioural order which would prohibit Walker from calling the emergency services unless in a genuine emergency.

Walker disputed that he told police he had drunk two bottles of wine but admitted he drank to excess and was ashamed of his behaviour, Miss McVitie said.

She said criminal behavioural orders were geared towards people regularly before the courts.

Magistrates could look at offences in the last year, she added, and Walker had not been before the court in three years. Probation officer Pamela Roberts said Walker told her in interview that his alcohol consumption had increased recently because of emotional issues.

He was on medication for depression and spoke of self-harm, magistrates heard.

Catherine Wantling, chairman of the bench, imposed a community order for a year with a 15 day rehabilitation activity requirement.

He must also pay £85 in prosecution costs and a surcharge in the same amount.

Magistrates did not impose the order on the grounds that Walker was not a persistent offender and he was to receive probation service support.