A Warrnambool man charged over a series of hoax calls to 000 says he was "fixated" on listening to the police scanner.
Samuel Crouch, 23, appeared in Warrnambool Magistrates Court this week charged with four counts of making a vexatious call to emergency services and three counts of possess imitation firearm.
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The charges carry a maximum penalty of three years' jail.
Police allege the man made four hoax calls to 000 between February 12 and March 21, reporting serious multi-vehicle crashes at different locations in the Warrnambool area.
On one occasion, the man allegedly reported a three-car collision at the intersection of Aberline Road and Whites Road, Warrnambool, with possible trapped occupants, and oil and debris all over the road.
On another occasion, he allegedly reported a car versus truck collision at the intersection of Horne Road and Wangoom Road, Warrnambool, with a person trapped, smoke and flames.
As a result of the calls, Victoria Police, County Fire Authority and Ambulance Victoria officers responded as a matter of priority, only to confirm no incident.
Mr Crouch was arrested at a property in Warrnambool on Monday morning.
A search of the property allegedly uncovered three imitation firearms.
He was conveyed to Warrnambool police station and subsequently charged with possessing the imitation firearms and making the hoax calls.
During a bail application, magistrate Franz Holzer said the alleged offending would "certainly have implications for various services and the danger to the public if they are diverted away from where they're truly required".
When asked why he made the calls, Mr Crouch said he had "a little bit of a fixation listening to it (unfold) on the scanners".
The magistrate said the offending was not "trivialised behaviour at all".
"It is serious," he said.
He said he was willing to release the man from custody with bail conditions, including he comply with the Court Integrated Services Program and not reoffend.
"Do not, I repeat do not do this kind of irresponsible, immature behaviours again," Mr Holzer said.
Mr Crouch will appear in court again in May.
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