Student nurse Ruby Taylor sparks emergency with fake abduction sign

A major police operation was launched when a student nurse held up a sign claiming to have been abducted while a passenger in her friend’s car.

A student nurse who sparked a major police operation after holding up a sign to the window of a friend’s car claiming she had been abducted has escaped conviction.

Ruby Taylor, 19, sparked a ‘code red’ emergency response from police on November 19 last year when she held up an envelope with the words “HELP I’ve been abducted” written on it while on the Pacific Highway south of Taree.

A member of the public saw the sign and called emergency services, with officers from Taree and Forster responding under lights and sirens.

When officers pulled over the red Mazda CX3, they questioned the driver who confirmed everyone in the vehicle was safe and there willingly. When told of why they had been stopped, Taylor, sitting in the front passenger seat, started laughing.

She refused to answer police when asked what was so funny, before the driver admitted Taylor was responsible for the sign. She said she had warned her friend it wasn’t a good idea.

The student nurse was asked to get out of the car and was again questioned about the sign, where she eventually admitted to holding it up and told officers she didn’t know why she had done it.

Taylor was charged with making a fake plea for help.

Defence solicitor Michelle Macdonald told the court her client, who pleaded guilty, was remorseful and highlighted her clean criminal record.

Magistrate Georgina Darcy said it was disappointing to see a young student, especially one looking to pursue such a career in healthcare, behave so recklessly.

“I would expect you to have a bit more maturity,” Ms Darcy said.

“It’s obvious you didn’t realise how serious this was.

“If this offence was committed by anyone, I’d expect someone much younger than you.”

The magistrate said it was clear Taylor regretted her actions and only now understood she had wasted police time and resources.

In her caution, Ms Darcy told Taylor she could have taken police away from real calls for help, putting lives at risk through the response she triggered.

Magistrate Darcy did not record a conviction and sentenced Taylor to a 12 month conditional release order.