A SENIOR Bolton police officer has been found guilty of making a string of fraudulent insurance and mortgage claims worth almost £46,000.

Insp Mohammed Razaq, aged 53, was in charge of the Bolton West neighbourhood police team until he was arrested and his office was raided by police in May 2011.

He was today found guilty of six counts of fraud and three counts of money laundering at the end of a six-week trial at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester.

The fraud charges, which he denied, relate to a series of claims for damage on properties that he owns and mortgage applications.

Insp Razaq owned four homes: two neighbouring houses in Bradford Road, Great Lever, where he lives, one in Bowker Street, Higher Broughton, and one in Duncan Street, Salford.

He was also trying to buy a fifth property in Georgina Court, Daubhill.

The court heard how he used several different identities in a bid to cover his tracks.

Insp Razaq joined Greater Manchester Police in 1978 and was one of the first Asian officers to work for the force, the jury was told.

Builder Mushtaq Hussain, aged 50, of Armadale Road, Ladybridge, tried to help him cover up the fraud by putting money through his books which he never received.

He has been found guilty of one count of fraud.

Razaq will be sentenced on Friday, June 28.