Heath Ledger hoax calls traced to UK

The cruel hoaxer who has been pretending to be Heath Ledger's grieving dad has been traced to the United Kingdom.

New York Police have reportedly traced the con-artist to the seaside town of Scarborough in northeastern England.

The hoaxer - said to be clearly putting on a fake Australian accent - said he was on a British number when he rang one of the late actor's best friends, Lance Reynolds

Reynolds, a movie producer who had known the 'Brokeback Mountain' star for 10 years, said he was furious over the cruel hoax. "If this wasn't heartbreaking enough, this just really takes your breath away," Reynolds said.

He received a phone call from a man who purported to be Kim Ledger on Friday night. "It's been a couple of years since I spoke to Kim, and I assumed it was him because he was so grief-stricken," Reynolds said. "In hindsight, it didn't sound like him."

And the faker also subtly probed him for contact information of mutual friends.

The hoaxer - who tricked Tom Cruise into consoling him over the phone and is still at large - spoke with a convincing Australian accent, said Reynolds, an Australian himself. "I really want you to come to the funeral," the phony told him.

It was when Reynolds promised that he would call back that he was given the UK mobile number, which was never answered.

The man began pulling the stunt just hours after 28-year-old Ledger died in his Manhattan apartment and also contacted Mel Gibson, Halle Berry and Christian Bale.

US police sources told British The Sun newspaper that two numbers - a land line and mobile - had been tracked down to a dingy block of bedsit flats in the Yorkshire seaside resort of Scarborough.

The mobile was said to be registered to a 35-year-old local man.

A police source told the newspaper: "How would a nobody in that flat have the numbers of two of the world's biggest film stars?

"Investigators are also asking what was his motive. It's bizarre.

"All roads currently lead to this man. And he may soon get a knock at his door."

New York police are leading the inquiry but North Yorkshire detectives may be drafted in.

By Owen Williams, Feb 03 2008 © Copyright 2008 - Showbiz Spy