Businessman sparked city lockdown after lying about robbery

A BUSINESSMAN falsely claimed to police that he had been robbed – leading to officers setting up a dozen roadblocks on every route in and out of a Scottish city in a bid to catch the imaginary attackers, a court heard.

Shafiq Jamal, who helps run his family’s Jamal Property World business in Dundee, had in fact been involved in a “shady” deal to buy nine iPhones for just £700 from two men in a car.

They handed over a bag with no phones in it – but Jamal did not realise he had been duped until they had left with his cash.

He then dialled 999, claiming two men with Liverpool accents had stuck a weapon into his back before making off in a maroon-coloured Ford Focus with his cash.

Dundee Sheriff Court was told that 22 officers and four civilian control room staff were immediately put on the case – with the officers setting up 12 road blocks on every route in and out of the city.

But Jamal’s lies were exposed after police reviewed CCTV footage and saw him by the car leaning in to the window to talk to the men.

Fiscal depute Trina Sinclair said: “The accused’s associate provided a statement saying the two men had been selling iPhones and the accused had agreed to pay £700 for nine.

“He didn’t check the contents of the bag he was given until the men drove off. His associate said he had felt pressured into making his initial statement that there had been a robbery.”

Jamal, 26, of South Tay Street, Dundee, pleaded guilty to wasting police time on 4 November this year.

Jim Laverty, defending, said Jamal, a property manager at his family’s firm, did not want to report the actual fraud he had been subjected to because it constituted a crime by him.

He added: “The money he had used for this had been loaned to him by his brother.

“After he was diddled he sought advice and unfortunately that was to the effect that police would likely not take him seriously.

“When he was discussing this it suddenly dawned on Mr Jamal that he had put himself in a very difficult situation.

“He is totally ashamed of himself and this serious charge will have a detrimental impact on him.”

Sheriff George Way fined Jamal £300 and ordered him to pay Tayside Police £500 in compensation.

He said: “You know this was incredibly stupid and I heard the number of officers deployed.

“This could have got really out of hand – people approaching roadblocks do idiotic things and you would have been the trigger for that.

“There has to be a significant penalty but it doesn’t merit taking your liberty away.

“You will pay compensation to Tayside Police as well as a financial penalty.”