At 11:45pm on Saturday, December 31, police received a report that a man in his mid-thirties had been kidnapped around Dombarton, which is about 16 kilometres southwest of Wollongong.

NSW Police established a strike force to find the man and, after what police described as “extensive efforts”, discovered him at 10am the following morning in Dapto, only an eight-minute drive away from Dombarton.

Police claim the man made up the story about his own kidnapping and yesterday, Thursday, January 12, at 3:45pm he was arrested.

He was charged with making a false accusation, and false representation resulting in a police investigation.

The man appeared in Wollongong Local Court today, where he was granted conditional bail.

He is set to reappear in court on Tuesday, January 24.