London, December 24 (ANI): Richard and Mayumi Heene, the parents of the Colorado Balloon Boy, have been handed jail sentences.

The couple had wrongly informed the authorities and the media that their six-year-old son Falcon had floated away in a home-made balloon.

Now, Richard will serve 90 days behind bars.

Starting from January, he will be in prison for 30 days, but after that the remainder of the term will be on “work release” basis, allowing him to work during the day but spend his nights in jail.

Meanwhile, Mayumi will have to complete a 20 days sentence on a part-time basis, wherein she has to spend two days each week in jail.

“This in simple terms was an elaborate hoax that was devised by Mr and Mrs Heene,” Sky News quoted the judge, as saying.

The judge added: “What this case is about is deception and exploitation - exploitation of the Heenes’ children, exploitation of the media, exploitation of the feelings of people.

“And it was all about money, making money.”

The couple has received four years probation and has been forbidden from any activity that allows them to profit from the hoax.

Also, they need to foot the emergency services bill for the hoax which could cost more than 47,000 dollars. (ANI)