Police Officer Jailed for Stealing Wife's Jewellery

A police officer has been jailed for a year for stealing his wife's jewellery and pawning it and trying to pin the blame on rogue workmen.

Nadim Ahmed, 29, reported to fellow cops that jewels and some electrical equipment had gone missing from his home.

He lodged a claim with his insurance company for £11,500 and provided a statement to his colleague.

But his distraught wife later found her jewellery stashed in his car with pawn documents and confronted her husband.

Ahmed stood trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court where he was found guilty of stealing jewellery between January 2011 and December 2012, wasting police time and attempting to defraud Direct Line insurance.

He denied the charges and claimed the jewellery he pawned his wife knew about because they had money worries, and that she was trying to get him into trouble.

Sheriff Brian Adair told him: "As a serving police officer I found your evidence to be untruthful.

"You regularly avoided answering the simplest of questions. I did not believe your evidence."

Passing sentence yesterday (fr)he said: "No other method of dealing with you is appropriate other than prison, in view of the nature of the charges in particular the serious effect and loss to your wife in charge one."

In evidence Bushra Ahmed recalled becoming aware of the missing jewels when her sister came to borrow some in December 2012.

The 30 year-old stored the expensive items in the loft of the couple's home in the city's Possilpark - but when she went to check they were gone.

The haul included her engagement ring as well treasured necklace sets, bangles and other gems.

Bushra said: "I initially thought I must have put it elsewhere. I started looking everywhere, but could not find it."

Ahmed, who has six years police service, later made inquiries about making an insurance claim which he then cancelled without his wife knowing. His call was played to the court and the lying PC seemed to suggest a man called "Dave" - who he hired to fix a TV aerial in his loft - could be responsible.

Bushra said: "I was really upset at the time. There was a lot of sentimental value to me.

"He (Ahmed) told me that, being a police officer, he would deal with it." The mum said she was later left stunned when - during a last-ditch attempt at finding the jewels - she made a discovery in Ahmed's car.

The computer software specialist recalled: ""I was surprised. I peered inside and there were red boxes. I recognised them as my jewellery boxes."

The court heard how one was empty, but inside the other was a necklace set which had been a wedding gift from her husband.

Bushra then discovered a receipt and recalling the find: "It was an agreement that he had pawned some of the jewellery."

"I was shocked and could not believe what I was seeing. There had never been any discussion before about pawning jewellery as we had no financial difficulties."

Bushra remembered being "hysterical" before eventually confronting her husband.

Ahmed turned up at a family meeting and Bushra said he "knew he had been caught out".

Bushra later found three other pawn receipts detailing jewellery that had been taken.

But, Ahmed later insisted it was not her items that had been sold off, but "someone else's".

However, Bushra decided to call the pawn shop in question - and when she visited instantly recognised her jewellery. But, Bushra said "a lot more" of the jewellery that had been kept in the loft remained missing - including her engagement ring.

Bushra then looked on the verge of tears when she said her marriage "completely broke down" as a result of this.

Ahmed claimed that twice he pawned jewellery after arguments with his wife and that she knew about it.

He alleged that on one occasion she "threw" items at him and said "This is your f** stuff".

Ahmed claimed his wife contributed nothing to the house except groceries, keeping her money for herself and expecting him to foot the bill for their house.

And, that when they didn't move to a bigger house as she wanted, she wanted "many home improvements"

He said: "I was paying for them because I was told 'it's your responsibility you're the husband'."

Defence lawyer Urfan Dar lodged an appeal against Ahmed's conviction which will be dealt with at a later date.