A SECURITY officer who threatened to shoot a man for fleecing £30,000 off his friend in a pyramid selling scam has been spared an immediate prison sentence.

Abid Saleem's actions were 'a stupid aberration' by a hardworking man of previous positive good character, Judge Peter Benson said yesterday.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Saleem, 30, of Duchy Crescent, Heaton, Bradford, was very angry when his male friend and a number of other people lost their money when the scheme collapsed and payments stopped.

He was originally charged with blackmailing his victim by making an unwarranted demand of £30,000 with menaces.

The Crown dropped that allegation after his appearance at the magistrates court and Saleem pleaded guilty to the less serious offence of harassment.

Prosecutor Robert Galley said Bradford people invested money in the pyramid scheme after weekly meetings were held to promote it.

When it went under, Saleem blamed his victim, although he told him it had been run by a company in Canada.

Saleem rang the man on February 3 this year, demanding £60,000, dropped to £30,000 during the call.

He posed as a known Bradford enforcer and threatened to shoot the man if he did not pay up by Saturday.

Mr Galley said the man was "concerned and intimidated" and contacted the police.

The defendant called again, on the Friday, saying: "There is not much time".

The man was afraid for himself and his family. He had recorded the call and it was traced by the police to Saleem's mobile phone.

Saleem's barrister, Georgina Kelly, said he was very upset when his friend lost his money.

She handed in references speaking highly of Saleem, who wore a smart white shirt, purple tie and black and purple waistcoat for the court hearing.

Judge Benson sentenced him to six months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 200 hours of unpaid work.

He must pay £300 towards the cost of bringing the case.

The judge said Saleem had been 'incredibly stupid'.

He told him: "This was an aberration of your positive good character."

Saleem was the sole breadwinner in his family and cared for an elderly relative.

Colleagues, neighbours and relatives had written references praising him.

He committed the offence after his friend unwisely invested money through the victim in the case and lost £30,000.

Saleem tried to get his money back by issuing unpleasant threats but he had pleaded guilty to harassment at the earliest opportunity.