logo
Twisted West Lothian police officer threatened to torch house of partner's mum

Twisted West Lothian police officer threatened to torch house of partner's mum

Edinburgh Live02-07-2025
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
A West Lothian police officer threatened to set fire to his partner's mother's home and spread vicious lies her step-father was a child molester during a horror campaign of domestic abuse.
PC Tariq Mahmood, 45, told the terrified victim he would 'strangle or stab' her as she slept and threatened to take the couple's child away from her.
The woman said Mahmood constantly criticised her parenting skills, made derogatory remarks about her clothes and looks and accused of her of dressing to impress other men.
She also claimed Mahmood refused to speak to her if she did not have sex with him and only complimented her when she wore traditional Asian clothing during two years of abuse between December 2019 and November 2021.
The woman, also a serving police officer at the time, told a court she was so terrified by the brute's behaviour after they split she was forced to change the locks at her home and sleep with a metal bar across the front door.
Mahmood, from Livingston, West Lothian, denied the allegations but was found guilty of abusing the woman following a five day trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court earlier this year.
He was also found guilty of engaging in a course of behaviour that was abusive of a second former partner by shouting, swearing and assaulting her, all between April 2019 and February 2022.
A Police Scotland chief has now slammed the conduct of the disgraced officer and commended the bravery of the victims for coming forward to report him.
Mahmood returned to the capital court for sentencing on Wednesday where Sheriff John Cook said he had committed 'serious offences' but said there was an alternative to custody.
Sheriff Cook sentenced the officer to a two year supervision order and said he must complete 120 hours of unpaid work as punishment.
The sheriff also ordered Mahmood to attend sessions with the domestic abuse organisation Up2U and handed out non-harassment orders regarding both women for four years.
Defence advocate Edith Forrest KC said her client continued to 'maintain his denial' to the offences but he wanted to apologise to both victims.
Ms Forrest said Mahmood first joined the police in his native Birmingham in 2008 before moving north and transferring to Police Scotland 10 years later.
The advocate said he now plans to resign from his position in the force following the convictions.
The trial heard from one victim who said she met Mahmood while they were both serving police officers and after forming a relationship she fell pregnant with his child in December 2019.
The woman said Mahmood formed an instant hatred of her mother and step-father and had issued a threat to burn down their house and claimed the man was a paedophile.
She said when the couple's child was born he became 'controlling' and 'unpredictable' and had warned her he had 'more parental rights' than her.
The woman said: 'I told him he was coercive and he didn't like that at all. I knew he was using [the child] as a control measure and he just wanted me to know [the child] was his.
'He was shocked I had pointed out that. We were both police officers and both had training in coercive control and domestic abuse.'
The woman said Mahmood had also threatened to take the child away from her after the couple had split in September 2021.
Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
She said: 'I took [the child] to my grans house to stop him taking her to Birmingham because he said she would be better off with his family.
'I wasn't sure if he was going to take her to Pakistan where he had family.
'I was terrified he was going to take her and I would never see her again. I was really scared of him.'
She said the abuse also involved the police officer constantly mocking her parenting skills and admitted she was left 'terrified' of him after they split up.
She told the court: 'He said he would strangle me or stab me in my sleep, then pass it off as a joke. I was scared of him, really scared of him. I was scared what he was capable of.
'I was scared I would wake up one day and he would be at the bottom of my bed. He tried to break me when I was at my lowest point.'
Chief Superintendent Helen Harrison, of Police Scotland, said: 'Mahmood's actions go against everything Police Scotland stands for.
"Our thoughts are with the victims and I hope this conviction provides them with some measure of closure. I commend their strength in reporting these crimes and bringing this individual to justice.
"We understand how difficult it can be to report these kinds of offences, particularly when the perpetrator is a police officer.
"We want the public to be reassured that all reports are thoroughly investigated, no matter when the offending took place or who is involved.
'All officers are bound by our Standards of Professional Behaviour, which apply on and off duty. Any instance where an officer fails to uphold our standards will be investigated and appropriate action taken.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Man, 36, arrested over Edinburgh ‘shooting'
Man, 36, arrested over Edinburgh ‘shooting'

Scottish Sun

time6 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Man, 36, arrested over Edinburgh ‘shooting'

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAN has been arrested in connection with an alleged shooting in Edinburgh. A 23-year-old is alleged to have been shot twice in the arm earlier today near Hailesland Gardens in the city's Wester Hailes. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up He went to hospital after the alleged gun incident where he was treated for serious injuries. A 36-year-old has been arrested. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "A man has been arrested as enquiries continue into a report of a firearm being discharged in Edinburgh. "Officers were called to attend the Hailesland Gardens area around 3.40pm on Thursday, 24 July, 2025. "A 23-year-old man attended hospital for treatment to injuries sustained to his arm from the incident. No one else was injured. "Officers, including specialist firearms officers, attended and a search of the area was carried out. "A 36-year-old man has been arrested in connection and enquiries are ongoing. "A continued police presence will remain in the area." More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Scottish Sun. is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheScottishSun.

Salmond cleared of historic sexual assault claims as police end probe
Salmond cleared of historic sexual assault claims as police end probe

Daily Mail​

time6 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

Salmond cleared of historic sexual assault claims as police end probe

Police Scotland are to take 'no further action' over a historic sexual assault allegation levelled at Alex Salmond after his death. The force received a complaint about the former first minister shortly after he suffered a fatal heart attack in North Macedonia in October aged 69. After investigating the report, the police have now cleared the former Alba leader. In a statement, the force said: 'Following a report of a non-recent sexual assault, enquiries were carried out and no further action will be taken.' Mr Salmond, who led the SNP for 20 years and was first minister from 2007 to 2014, was cleared of 13 sexual offence counts at a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh in March 2020. Earlier misconduct claims made against him by two female civil servants led to a massive falling out with his protégé Nicola Sturgeon and a split in the Nationalist movement. In 2018, Mr Salmond resigned from the SNP after the claims emerged and challenged a Scottish Government probe into them. His successful judicial review showed the in-house inquiry had been unfair, unlawful and 'tainted by apparent bias', and he was awarded £512,00 in legal costs. He launched Alba on the eve of the 2021 Holyrood election as a pro-independence rival to his old party, but it has remained a political minnow and has yet to have a candidate elected. Alba MSP Ash Regan welcomed Police Scotland's decision. She told the Daily Record: 'Alex Salmond died with his reputation intact as a titan of Scottish politics. Alex can no longer defend himself, yet some remain determined to smear his name. 'It is time to let him rest, grant his wife Moira and his family the closure they deserve and draw a line so his legacy can be remembered with dignity.' Dr Nick McKerrell, a senior law lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian University, told the paper that investigating alleged crimes by dead people was 'not without precedent'. 'While the police 'obviously have difficulties with the absence of the key participants, there still can be public interest in carrying it out even though there can be no prosecution'.

Man taken to hospital after shooting incident in Edinburgh as police descend on residential street
Man taken to hospital after shooting incident in Edinburgh as police descend on residential street

Scotsman

time7 hours ago

  • Scotsman

Man taken to hospital after shooting incident in Edinburgh as police descend on residential street

Police have descended on a residential street in Edinburgh after reports of a gun having been fired. Sign up to the daily Crime UK newsletter. All the latest crime news and trials from across the UK. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Specialist firearms officers were among those called to Hailesland Gardens in Wester Hailes at around 3.40pm today (July 24) after they received reports of a firearm having been discharged. A 23-year-old man suffered serious injuries and he was taken to hospital for treatment. His injuries are said to be 'not life-threatening'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Officers remain on the scene and enquiries into the incident are ongoing. A Police Scotland spokesman said: ' At around 3.40pm on Thursday, 24 July, we were called to a report of a firearm being discharged in the Hailesland Gardens area of Edinburgh.' He added: 'Officers, including specialist firearms officers, are in attendance and extensive enquiries are ongoing.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store