PC faces jail for insurance fraud
The Daily Express / 18th February 2006
A crackshot policeman was "almost inevitably" facing jail yesterday, after a sheriff ruled he had faked the theft of his own car, torched it for the insurance money, and lied about it in court.

After a five-day trial, Central Scotland PC Alan Gavin was found guilty of defrauding the insurers of his £4,000 Nissan, and wasting police time by making a false report of a crime.

The former detective in the elite Scottish Crime Squad, one of only six qualified snipers in his force, faces certain dismissal.

In addition, Gavin, his brother Hugh Gavin, 40, who is also a Central Scotland policeman, and their 67-yearold father, also called Hugh, were accused by Sheriff Craig Caldwell of colluding and perjuring themselves and could now face charges.

Falkirk Sheriff Court heard that Alan Gavin, 42, acted after the two-litre Nissan Primera GT blew its cylinder head on the M9. He could not afford repairs so pretended the car had been stolen.

He arranged for brother Hugh to tow it from his home in Maddiston, Falkirk. They took it to a lonely spot near Armadale and set it on fire, burning his hand and scorching his eyebrows. After hospital treatment, he went with Hugh to Linlithgow police station where he reported the car had been stolen.

The incident, in January 2000, came to light after his estranged wife Karen, 43, reported him.

Karen, a benefits officer and mother of two, said she had endured five years of domestic abuse. Sheriff Caldwell said he found Karen Gavin had been "straightforward and candid".

Deferring sentence for reports, he told Alan Gavin:

"Because of the gravity of these charges, a custodial sentence is almost inevitable."