Evidence tampering officer jailed

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A police officer who gave false evidence in an assault trial has been jailed for 73 days.

Sundeep Patel, 29, pleaded guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last month to giving false evidence at a Linlithgow Sheriff Court trial on 8 July, 2004.

He said he altered evidence to cover up an accused man's claim that he acted in self-defence against his wife.

Sentence had been deferred on Patel, who was based at a Bathgate police station, until Friday for reports.

The appropriate level is the maximum on a summary complaint, three months, but I am obliged to give you a discount because of the plea tendered Sheriff John Horsburgh

Sheriff John Horsburgh, QC, told Patel: "For a police officer to commit perjury is unacceptable and a custodial sentence is the only appropriate one.

"The appropriate level is the maximum on a summary complaint, three months, but I am obliged to give you a discount because of the plea tendered. You are sentenced to 73 days from Friday."

Patel, who now lives in Ilford, Essex, was a first offender.

He joined the force in March 2002 and was posted to Bathgate in July.

In January 2004, after two years on the force, the officer was called to an alleged assault by a man on a woman.

The man was arrested and Patel, as the reporting officer, took notes of the interview.

Significant differences

Procurator fiscal Malcolm Stewart told the court it was clear from the notebook the accused man, in reply to questions, claimed he had been acting in self-defence.

While Patel was giving evidence, his notebook was produced, and, said Mr Stewart, it became apparent there were significant differences between what was in the notebook and what was in the transcript of the police interview.

The officer was interviewed at police headquarters

The trial was adjourned and the accused man was found not guilty.

In the transcript, Patel asked the man if he had attacked the woman in the bedroom or living room.

The answer was: "I hit her on the face." However, the true reply was: "I never touched her."

Asked why he had hit the woman, the transcript reply was: "Because she was being boring." The man actually said: "Because she went to stab me and hit me with the frying pan."

Mr Stewart said Patel was formally interviewed at Lothian and Borders Police headquarters at Fettes in Edinburgh in January 2005 and refused to comment on the allegations. He was suspended from duty.