Fraudster was trying to escape forced marriage
Judge’s sympathy for woman suffering community pressure over her sexuality
ATICKET fraudster who once scammed Justin Bieber fans has been spared jail after stealing £31,000 from her boss to ‘flee fears of an arranged marriage’, a court heard.
Zainab Pervaiz, 29, squandered around £24,000 of the stolen money on food, motels and B&Bs to stay away from her family home, Birmingham Crown Court heard.
She saved the rest to ‘flee’ what she feared might be attempts for an arranged marriage, the court was told.
Meanwhile, her former boss has been left facing bankruptcy and his business has collapsed as a result of the theft.
Pervaiz pleaded guilty to theft by employee in August and was sentenced to another 18 month sentence, suspended for 24 months. She was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work alongside an 18 month community order.
The money stolen would be repaid to the victim through the Proceeds of Crime Act, though the judge said it would ‘never’ compensate the victim for the direct losses he has suffered as a result.
Pervaiz had previously avoided prison by a ‘whisker’ in 2017 after she was handed a suspended twoyear jail term after admitting 16 counts of fraud, by selling ‘fictitious’ tickets to pop concerts including the likes of Justin Bieber.
But within five months of being given another chance – and weeks into a new customer adviser job – she was defrauding money from her employer by diverting refunds into a relative’s account.
The victim’s life and van hire business has been “shattered” after losing his livelihood to Pervaiz’ offending between May and July 2018, the court heard.
Harinderpal Dhami, prosecuting, said: “The complainant said the
What you had feared were more severe consequences should you go to Pakistan for an arranged marriage. Judge
whole incident has left him distressed and upset as he placed her in a position of trust within his company.
“As a result he has been left in a dire financial situation. He lost the franchise which was his livelihood. He has been paying for debts out of his own pocket.
“He suffered from anxiety, depression and panic attacks. He’s had very little contact with his immediate family members.
“He is now challenging bankruptcy. There is a lot of pressure and anxiety upon him, he had to plough in to the business his own personal savings to try and keep the business going.”
The court heard Pervaiz “squandered” the majority of the stolen money, around £24,000 on motels, hotels, B&Bs and food after her relationship with a woman was exposed at the ticket fraud sentencing.
She feared “more severe consequences” if she was sent to Pakistan for an arranged marriage to a man, though the judge said there was “probably no basis” for those fears.
Lynette McClement, defending, said: “Her family had no idea she was gay. [After the offending], the worst disgrace for her family was that she was in a sexual relationship with a woman.
“This was the attitude, with respect to her mother who has come around.
“The intent was to take money and escape, to flee. That is the level of desperation I was trying to get across.”
The court heard Pervaiz and her now fiancée, who have a home together, were running a dog grooming business together which “couldn’t carry on” without her if she was sent to prison.
“She has turned her life around. She has had real insight into her behaviour and the reasons for it and how to deal with it,” Ms McClement added. “It is just a straight forward act of stupidity. The offending was far from sophisticated.”
In giving her another chance,
Judge Sarah Buckingham told her: “I was perplexed and confused how, an intelligent woman like you could and would have so blatantly and deliberately set about another set of dishonest offences.”
Judge Buckingham added that though Pervaiz had “failed to respect” the opportunity given to her by the last judge, the mitigation allowed her to more clearly understand her personal situation.
“What followed was the pressure from the community and family being brought to bear to change your sexuality for the ‘good’ of the whole family and community and their reputation,” Judge Buckingham said.
“Certainly that is how I am receiving the mitigation. You were unable
to cope with that. I am prepared to accept the fact that what you had feared were more severe consequences should you go to Pakistan for an arranged marriage.
“There was probably no basis for thinking that at all but I’m prepared to accept you in your fragile state believed that.
“For three years has now passed, you have now immeasurable support and people of some standing who know about this dishonest side to you, which there clearly is and needs to be addressed, have put pen to paper to speak of your positive attributes.
“People speak very highly of you. It will not serve a purpose at all to send you to immediate custody.”