The brother of a man accused of the murder of Skander Rehman escaped jail after he tried to give him a false alibi.

Ajmal Ahmed told police that he and his younger brother Toqueer were at the doctor's at the time of the murder.

But Toqueer Ahmed, 21, who was later cleared of murder by a jury, admitted to police he had been with Feroz Khan at the time of the killing, though not involved.

Ajmal Ahmed, 22, was arrested and admitted telling a lie to police out of loyalty to his younger brother.

But Ahmed, who pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice, was spared jail by a judge at Leeds Crown Court because of the exceptional circumstances of the case.

Judge James Stewart, QC, said: "When your brother was interviewed he admitted presence at the scene of the murder and in due course was acquitted by a jury.

"It therefore follows that the false alibi, which you did not follow through, was not one adopted by your brother and in the event he went free.

"It would seem ironical to me to send you immediately to prison when your brother, who admitted to a conspiracy to cause actual bodily harm but was not charged with it, has not been sentenced at all. I regard that as an exceptional circumstance in this case.

"The offence of attempting to pervert the course of justice is a very serious offence and normally carries a custodial sentence, but in the unusual circumstances of this case I consider the appropriate sentence is 12 months' imprisonment suspended for two years."

He also ordered Ahmed, of Aberdeen Place, Lidget Green, Bradford, to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

Prosecutor Michael Smith said Ahmed told police he and his brother had gone to visit their local GP at the relevant time. He immediately admitted lying when police said his brother had confessed to being at the scene.

Yunus Valli, for Ahmed, said the offence had been committed out of "misplaced loyalty, brotherly love and family ties". It had been done off his own back while in a state of shock and panic.