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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Man jailed after hiring 'hitman' | Man jailed after hiring 'hitman' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| An Edinburgh businessman who admitted paying a "hitman" to shoot and cripple his cousin by knee-capping has been jailed for five years. | An Edinburgh businessman who admitted paying a "hitman" to shoot and cripple his cousin by knee-capping has been jailed for five years. |
| Mohammed Iqbal had approached a man who he believed would carry out the attack only to later discover he was an undercover detective. | Mohammed Iqbal had approached a man who he believed would carry out the attack only to later discover he was an undercover detective. |
| Iqbal, 44, admitted inciting the police officer known as "Phil" to assault his cousin Atta Mohammed in July 2003. | Iqbal, 44, admitted inciting the police officer known as "Phil" to assault his cousin Atta Mohammed in July 2003. |
| He was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday. | He was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday. |
| Last month he pled guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh to a charge of incitement to assault. | Last month he pled guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh to a charge of incitement to assault. |
| Judge Michael O'Grady QC jailed him for what he called a "sinister and disturbing" offence. | Judge Michael O'Grady QC jailed him for what he called a "sinister and disturbing" offence. |
| Had this person not been a police officer, you would have been content to unleash him on the intended victim Michael O'GradyHigh Court in Glasgow | Had this person not been a police officer, you would have been content to unleash him on the intended victim Michael O'GradyHigh Court in Glasgow |
| The court heard how the hit had been designed as revenge for an affair Iqbal believed Mr Mohammed was having with his stepmother. | The court heard how the hit had been designed as revenge for an affair Iqbal believed Mr Mohammed was having with his stepmother. |
| Iqbal had been given the information by a friend who was an Edinburgh restaurateur. | Iqbal had been given the information by a friend who was an Edinburgh restaurateur. |
| But, police got wind of Iqbal's plan and carried out an operation to snare him. | But, police got wind of Iqbal's plan and carried out an operation to snare him. |
| He had a series of meetings in the capital with an undercover officer known only as Phil and discussed how he wanted Mr Mohammed to be crippled and not shot in the head or heart. | He had a series of meetings in the capital with an undercover officer known only as Phil and discussed how he wanted Mr Mohammed to be crippled and not shot in the head or heart. |
| Iqbal, of Duddingston Park South, Edinburgh, also gave details of what Mr Mohammed looked like and where he lived. | Iqbal, of Duddingston Park South, Edinburgh, also gave details of what Mr Mohammed looked like and where he lived. |
| 'Mightily relieved' | 'Mightily relieved' |
| When the fake hitman showed him a picture of the intended victim, Iqbal confirmed he was the target. | When the fake hitman showed him a picture of the intended victim, Iqbal confirmed he was the target. |
| Police recorded the meetings and eventually detained Iqbal. He claimed he had no problem with his cousin and even denied it was his voice when the tapes were played to him. | Police recorded the meetings and eventually detained Iqbal. He claimed he had no problem with his cousin and even denied it was his voice when the tapes were played to him. |
| On Tuesday, his QC Jim Keegan said Iqbal was "mightily relieved" that no attack took place in the end. | On Tuesday, his QC Jim Keegan said Iqbal was "mightily relieved" that no attack took place in the end. |
| Judge O'Grady told him the sentence would have been six years but for his guilty plea. | Judge O'Grady told him the sentence would have been six years but for his guilty plea. |
| He added: "This is a serious offence and there is something sinister and disturbing in hiring someone to cause significant injury to another. | He added: "This is a serious offence and there is something sinister and disturbing in hiring someone to cause significant injury to another. |
| "Had this person not been a police officer, you would have been content to unleash him on the intended victim." | "Had this person not been a police officer, you would have been content to unleash him on the intended victim." |
| A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman said: "Our intervention meant that thankfully, the intended target of Mr Iqbal's intentions came to no harm. | |
| "The sentence handed down is testament to the dedicated work by our officers prior to Mr Iqbal's arrest and in building this case for trial." |