A West Yorkshire Police staff member has been jailed after making false claims in court that he was a police officer to try and avoid disqualification from driving.
Detention Officer Sharjeel Jelani, 34, who works in Bradford District, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court today (Thursday, 28 September) where he pleaded guilty to one count of perjury.
He was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment. He also received a 12-month disqualification from driving for the original speeding offence, which will come into effect on his release from prison.
The charge relates to a hearing at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates Court in June 2022 in relation to an off-duty speeding offence. DO Jelani submitted an ‘Exceptional Hardship’ application to the court which said that he needed his licence for work as a police officer working in road traffic patrol and that his career would be affected by a disqualification.
It was identified after DO Jelani had been sentenced that incorrect information had been submitted to the court and an investigation was commenced by the Force’s Professional Standards Directorate.
Detective Superintendent Tanya Wilkins, of West Yorkshire Police’s Professional Standards Directorate, said: “Honesty and integrity are core values that all police employees should have. Any suggestion that someone employed by the police has lied in criminal proceedings is extremely serious.
“DO Jelani has been suspended from duty since this investigation commenced. He will now be subject to misconduct proceedings.”
