A TEENAGE boy has been punished for making repeated hoax 999 calls.

A Kent police spokesman said the 17-year-old from Stone phoned the force communication centre 10 times on New Year’s Eve.

In the first call he said his brother had locked him in their house, and in another call he claimed he had stabbed his brother, who could be heard laughing in the background.

The boy, who police traced through his mobile phone, also hurled abused at the operators who answered his calls.

The teenager has been given an £80 penalty notice.

Inspector Christopher Norfolk, of the force communications centre, said: “This individual thought he was being funny and appeared to be trying to impress those he was with.

“But in reality he was putting lives in jeopardy and being offensive to people who are there to help the public.”