False alibi lawyer's sentence cut

A Glasgow lawyer who gave a false alibi to a man facing abduction and extortion charges has had his prison sentence cut in half by appeal judges.

Shahid Pervez, 39, from Crookston, was originally jailed for five years and three months after admitting attempting to pervert the course of justice.

But appeal judges in Edinburgh ruled that the approach of the sentencing judge was "wholly excessive".

At the Court of Criminal Appeal, his sentence was cut to 32 months.

The father-of-two, from Crookston, was formerly a conveyancing solicitor with a law firm in Glasgow.

He was approached by a client in 2005, with whom he was discussing an insurance claim, and asked to provide an alibi over serious charges.

'Professional ruin'

At his original trial last year, Pervez's defence counsel argued that he agreed to provide the alibi because the criminal threatened his life and the lives of his family.

But sentencing him, Lord Hardie said that he should have reported the matter to police.

On Friday, Lord Johnston, sitting with Lord Nimmo Smith, quashed the original jail term and reduced Pervez's sentence.

Lord Johnston said the consequences of the case for Pervez "can reasonably be described as professional ruin".

He said: "He also had mental health problems which undoubtedly made him vulnerable to what appears to be a pretty powerful and nasty man."

The appeal judges also noted that Pervez had co-operated with police and subsequently gave evidence at a trial.

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