Ex-police officer jailed for driving offences

A former West Yorkshire Police officer has been jailed after admitting driving offences.

Ex-PC Abdul Iqbal, who worked in the Kirklees district as a student officer, was arrested on suspicion of drink driving in Wakefield on 15 May.

The 29-year-old, of Russell Street, Dewsbury, was seen exiting the driver's side of a damaged vehicle after a minor collision but sent a message to his friend asking them to say they were driving.

At Bradford Crown Court today, Iqbal was sentenced to four months in prison for three offences and was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

As well as pleading guilty to drink driving, he admitted perverting the course of justice and failing to provide information at an earlier hearing.

Officers were called to Denby Dale Road just after 03:30 BST, where they found a Kia Ceed with damage to its wheel consistent with hitting a kerb.

Iqbal was seen to get out of the driver's side and referred to himself driving to officers.

When asked if he had been drinking, he started speaking to his friend in the Mirpuri dialect and was witnessed sending a message on his phone that read, "tell them you were driving".

He was breathalysed at the roadside before providing an evidential reading of 66mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath - almost double the legal limit.

An independent interpreter later translated what Iqbal had said to his friend at the roadside in Mirpuri.

He had told his friend to tell the police he was driving and also made comments about being "finished".

After the sentencing, Det Ch Supt Tanya Wilkins said: "We regularly warn people of the dangers of driving under the influence.

"This former officer has not only put himself and other roads users at risk but has then tried to avoid justice by attempting to get someone else to take the blame for his actions.

"The public quite rightly expect our officers to behave ethically, acting with honesty and integrity. "

She confirmed Iqbal was still in his probationary period as a student officer, so was dismissed on the grounds he would "not become an efficient and well-conducted constable".

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