A WOMAN gave a false statement to police about the theft of her car after she had in fact sold it on.

Julie Gemmell was sentenced for wasting police time at Glasgow Sheriff Court after she called police to report her car was stolen.

However, the 41-year-old had actually agreed to sell the car and handed over the keys but was not happy when she only received just over half of her asking price.

Gemmell admitted that on June 30 at her home in Ryehill Road, Barmulloch, she falsely told two police officers that her car had been stolen by use of a 'true' key, which can give access to every lock.

Her statement caused police to investigate the matter at public expense she knew to be false, depriving the public of the officers’ services. It rendered the people she accused of the theft liable to the suspicion and accusation of theft.

The court heard that Gemmell gave police a full statement.

She said to police she did not know how anyone would have taken the car.

After police investigated the car was recovered after it was found in a parking bay.

The vehicle was then arranged for uplift and taken back to the accused’s house.

Police then carried out door to door enquiries in the area where the car was found. They were handed the keys of Gemmell’s car from a witness.

The witness handed the keys of Gemmell’s car as well as the relevant documents to officers and had confirmed that an exchange of money had taken place.

The police then made there way back to the accused’s address where they cautioned and charged her. It was then Gemmell revealed that she had agreed to sell the car to the witness for a price of £500 but she had only received £270. Gemmell said she wanted the rest of the money or her car to be returned.

Her defending solicitor said she had been going through a very difficult phase in her life which lead to her being disqualified from driving.

Gemmell sold her car because of the ban but when she didn’t received the full sum she became infuriated.

She truly believed her car was stolen at the time but soon regretted wasting police time.

Gemmell was sentenced to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work over a period of five months.