House robber snared by cut hand thanks to DNA

Jul 2 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A MAN who robbed a Livingston house was caught thanks to DNA evidence.

Linlithgow Sheriff Court heard that Shahid Ali and two unknown accomplices took nearly £16,000 worth of goods and jewellery and £1000 in cash from the home.

The owners were on holiday and a friend had been asked to keep an eye on their house when they were away.

When the friend went to the house on December 29 last year they noticed the conservatory door had been smashed open with a brick.

Police were called and they saw that the house had been ransacked.

Blood was found on the conservatory door frame and DNA analysis came back matching Ali.

He was interviewed and initially denied being near the house.

The court heard that none of the stolen items were recovered.

Last week Ali, who was described as a prisoner of Saughton Prison, pleaded guilty to the offence.

His solicitor said it was hard to mitigate a case like his.

The defence agent added: “One can only imagine the stress the family encountered on returning home from holiday to find their house ransacked.

“It is a very serious matter. He was arrested by police when he returned from Pakistan. He had been there with his mother and younger brother.

“He was detained and has been in custody since February.

“His position is that he never entered the house. He said he took two people to the house and they robbed it.

“He said he cut himself helping take boxes out and got a cash payment for helping them.

“There were more people involved than Mr Ali and he carries the can for them.”

Jailing Ali for 14 months Sheriff Martin Edington said: “This was quite a deliberate house-breaking exercise and it appears to me to be a well researched and executed plan.

“A thorough search of the whole house was done including the loft which resulted in £16,000 of goods and £1000 of money taken with no recovery.

“You have a bad track record for dishonesty. Your previous convictions now extend to three pages over a 11-year period.

“It is my view that only a prison sentence is satisfactory and you will therefore be deprived of your liberty.”