Jonathan Ross prompted police to raid a wildlife sanctuary after joking that its staff had abused a dormouse.
The star, 48, displayed a photograph of the creature to a live TV audience, which he claimed had been manhandled inappropriately.
He suggested the dormouse, pictured sleeping peacefully in a rose, had been woken from its hibernation for the photo shoot - an offence under the Animal and Welfare Act.
Millions heard the quip after it was aired on BBC1's Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, reports the Daily Mail.
Some viewers believed him and rang police. When an officer went to investigate at the Secret World Wildlife Rescue Centre in Somerset, staff were horrified.
After all, they had originally saved the dormouse, which they named Dreamy, when he was found in a greenhouse with wounds thought to have been inflicted by a cat.
Spokesman Jamie Baker said: "We told them the dormouse had never been woken up. I think people meant well but they should have got the whole story first."
Avon and Somerset Police later confirmed a complaint had been made and an officer sent out to investigate. A spokesman added that no offence was committed
The star, 48, displayed a photograph of the creature to a live TV audience, which he claimed had been manhandled inappropriately.
He suggested the dormouse, pictured sleeping peacefully in a rose, had been woken from its hibernation for the photo shoot - an offence under the Animal and Welfare Act.
Millions heard the quip after it was aired on BBC1's Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, reports the Daily Mail.
Some viewers believed him and rang police. When an officer went to investigate at the Secret World Wildlife Rescue Centre in Somerset, staff were horrified.
After all, they had originally saved the dormouse, which they named Dreamy, when he was found in a greenhouse with wounds thought to have been inflicted by a cat.
Spokesman Jamie Baker said: "We told them the dormouse had never been woken up. I think people meant well but they should have got the whole story first."
Avon and Somerset Police later confirmed a complaint had been made and an officer sent out to investigate. A spokesman added that no offence was committed
