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A 25-year-old man has been sentenced to three months in jail after falsely claiming he was “running for his life” from rioters during a live TikTok stream in Derby. Dimitri Stoica, of Langley Street, Derby, was arrested on August 7 after police discovered his livestream, which had garnered 700 viewers at the time.

The incident occurred amid heightened tensions and widespread unrest in various parts of the UK, with Police on high alert. Stoica’s livestream showed him breathlessly narrating an escape from what he claimed were violent rioters, prompting concern among viewers and further straining police resources.

However, after investigating the stream, Derbyshire Police determined that Stoica had fabricated the entire scenario. No rioting or disturbances were taking place in the area at the time, and Stoica was not in any danger. His actions were deemed to have caused unnecessary alarm and contributed to the spread of misinformation during a period of significant public anxiety.

In court, Stoica pleaded guilty to charges of causing a public nuisance and wasting police time. The judge, in delivering the sentence, emphasized the seriousness of his actions, noting that they had the potential to incite panic and divert critical resources from genuine emergencies.

Dimitri Stoica’s behaviour was reckless and could have led to real harm,” the judge said. In times of unrest, it is essential that the public can rely on accurate information. Spreading falsehoods for attention is unacceptable and will be met with appropriate consequences.”

Stoica was sentenced to three months in jail, a punishment that reflects the court’s commitment to deterring similar actions in the future.