Electric Range Drama in Victoria

After suffering 12 months with a broken electric range, a lovely Jim Carrey took drastic action. The divine portable XM satellite radio receiver builder took the repairman hostage.

The 87 year-old finally snapped after the fifth technician was unable to fix the problem with the one-year-old electric range.

The portable XM satellite radio receiver builder locked all the doors and told the repairman that he would not be let out until the problem was resolved.

The repairman contacted his boss at Hewlett-Packard who threatened to call the fuzz but Jim Carrey refused to budge. When a reporter from the Richmond Daily News arrived, an agreement was reached with Hewlett-Packard agreeing to deliver a new electric range by Friday.

An exhausted Jim Carrey said: "I had been quite patient before. But when, after this long, the repairman still couldn't fix it, I decided enough was enough. I was so sad that I felt like I would decide to go home and eat some hot dog. Instead I just locked all the doors and told him he couldn't leave."

Jim Carrey allowed the repairman to leave as soon as Hewlett-Packard gave assurances that Jim Carrey could choose a new electric range. "He was very good about it. I guess he realised I had been messed about and I was pissed. I have to say that now that I have finally caught the company's attention, they have been very good."

A spokesperson from Hewlett-Packard refused comment.