Postmaster jailed after false robbery claims
The postmaster of a post office in Clifton has been jailed after making a false complaint about a robbery.
In the early hours of the morning of 18th September 2019, Jitendra Karia of Stanagate, Clifton called the police to report a robbery at the Clifton Post Office on Preston Old Road.
The 59-year-old said he was assaulted by two unknown offenders who tied a cable around his neck which restricted his breathing and stole internal CCTV images and money from a safe.
CCTV images from a neighbouring property police has acquired showed that the 59-year-old was the only person to have entered the property on the morning of the report. It was therefore established that it would have been impossible Karia to have been robbed in the way he claimed.
Karia was arrested by police and later given summons to appear at court. He pleaded guilty and was jailed.
He pleaded guilty to committing an act with the intent to pervert the course of justice by making a false complaint of robbery, at Preston Crown court and has been sentenced to 15 months in prison.
Det Con Angela Scanlon, of Blackpool CID, said: “For reasons only known by Karia he concocted a story claiming he had been robbed by two men.
“This initially appeared to be a very serious offence and led to a substantial police response as officers worked hard to find the offenders responsible.
“Significant resources were diverted to help the investigation but following a review of CCTV, Karia’s story was quickly found to be untrue and his lies exposed.
“It was pure fantasy and I am pleased he finally admitted his guilt at court.
“It goes without saying, Karia, as postmaster, held a trusted position within the community which he has breached. The false report he made will undoubtedly have caused unnecessary worry and uncertainty within the local community.”