A convicted ticket fraudster who previously scammed Justin Bieber fans has been spared jail once again after admitting to stealing £31,000 from her boss in order 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 was informed that she saved the rest to ‘flee’ what she feared might have been attempts for an arranged wedding.
Meanwhile, her ex-boss has been left “facing bankruptcy” and his business has suffered financial losses as a consequence of the theft.
Pervaiz, Stone in Staffordshire, pleaded guilty last August to theft as an employee. She was sentenced on Friday to an additional 18-month sentence, which was suspended for two years.
Birmingham Crown Court heard Zainab Pervaiz, 29, squandered around £24,000 of money stolen from her employer on food, motels and B&Bs to stay away from her family home
Pervaiz, who is currently in a relationship, was spared jail after the court heard that she stole the money to ‘flee fears of an arrangement marriage’
Pervaiz, who was sentenced to a two-year suspended term for fraud in 2017 by selling tickets to pop concerts and was a victim of ‘fictitious’ tickets sales, had managed to avoid prison by being a ‘whisker.
She defrauded her employer of money by diverting refunds into the account of a relative, five months after being offered another chance.
After Pervaiz’s offending between May 2018 and July 2018, the victim’s life was’shattered’, according to the court.
Harinderpal Dhami, the prosecutor, stated that the complainant claimed that the whole incident left him upset and distressed because he put her in a position where he could trust her.
Birmingham Crown Court heard that the victim’s life was’shattered’ by Pervaiz’s offending.
“He has been left in a very difficult financial situation. He lost the franchise that was his livelihood. He has been paying his debts out of his own pockets.
“He was prone to anxiety, depression, and panic attacks. He hasn’t had much contact with his immediate relatives.
“He is now challenging bankruptcy. He is under a lot of stress and anxiety. He had to put his personal savings into the business to keep it going.
The court heard Pervaiz ‘squandered’ the majority of the stolen money, around £24k, on motels, hotels, B&Bs and food after her relationship with a woman was exposed at the ticket fraud sentencing.
She was afraid of’more severe consequences’ if sent to Pakistan to arrange marriage to a man. However, the judge stated that there was no basis for her fears.
Lynette McClement, defending, said that she didn’t know she was homosexual. [After the offending]The worst thing for her family was her sexual relationship to a woman.
“This was her attitude, with respect for her mother who has come around.
‘The intention was to get money and flee, to escape. That was the level of desperation that I was trying to convey. While I don’t wish to suggest it was true, it was something I believed.
The court heard Pervaiz and her now fiancé, who have a home together, were running a dog grooming business which ‘couldn’t carry on’ without her if she was sent to prison.
“She has changed her life.” Miss McClement stated that she had gained real insight into her behavior, the reasons and how to deal.
“It was a transaction into her bank account that she used and for which her employer paid her wages.
It is a simple act based on stupidity. The offense was not sophisticated.
Pervaiz pleaded guilty on August to theft as an employee and was sentenced again to an 18 month sentence, with a suspended sentence of 24 months
Zainab pervaiz, 29 years old, outside Birmingham Crown Court during a 2017 hearing when she pleaded guilty 16 counts of fraud after cheating Justin Bieber’s fans out of tickets
Judge Sarah Buckingham gave her another chance and said to her: “I was perplexed that an intelligent woman like yours could and would so blatantly set about another set dishonest offences.”
“It was a family friend who had offered you a chance. How on earth could you have stooped that low?
‘There can be no doubt that he has suffered irreparable damage. He is currently facing bankruptcy and is personally responsible for the debts of others.
“His life and business have been destroyed by your selfish acts.”
Judge Buckingham stated that Pervaiz had allegedly ‘failed’ to respect the opportunity given her by the previous judge. However, the mitigation allowed Pervaiz to better understand her personal situation.
Judge Buckingham stated, “What followed was the pressure from family and the community being brought to bear on your sexuality for their ‘good’ and their reputation.”
“It is my way of receiving the mitigation. That was the only thing you could do.
“I accept that the consequences you feared were worse if you travel to Pakistan to arrange your marriage.
“There was probably no reason to believe that, but I’m willing to accept that you, in your fragile state, believed that.”
‘For three consecutive years, you have immeasurable support. People of some standing who are aware of this dishonesty to you, which clearly is and must be addressed, have written down to highlight your positive attributes.
“People talk highly of you.” It is not a good idea to take you into immediate custody.
Pervaiz was also given an 18-month community order that included 200 hours of unpaid work.
Although the Proceeds of Crime Act would reimburse the victim for the money taken, the judge stated that it would not compensate the victim for any direct losses.