TWO men have been found guilty of deliberately swapping identities which hampered investigations into a pizza shop in a County Durham market town.

Rafiq Fariaq Sala, 33, and Rabaz Sidwan Raza, 29, identified as each other to police when asked what their names were during a multi-agency raid at Best Kebab One, on Fore Bondgate, in Bishop Auckland.

Police and officers from Durham County Council and County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service carried out the operation at the takeaway in response to concerns about anti-social behaviour and matters around licensing objectives and health and safety.

Peterlee Magistrates’ Court yesterday heard Raza, of Chaucer Drive, Crook, was sitting in a blue Audi to the rear of the shop when an officer asked “what is your name” and he replied Rafiq Sala and gave Sala’s date of birth.

During the incident on the evening of December 16 last year, Sala, of Fore Bondgate, identified himself to officers inside the premises as Rabaz Raza when asked what his name was and left the room when asked for his phone number.

The court also heard Sala told an officer he had stolen the Audi, before confirming it did belong to him.

Amrit Jandoo, prosecuting, said it later became apparent the pair had swapped identities following internal police investigations and clarification from Raza’s partner at a later meeting.

He said: “Their (the police officers’) investigation was thwarted at every opportunity.

"We don’t know why. We may never know why.”

In evidence through an interpreter, Sala said he gave Raza’s name because he was in the process of selling the business to him and believed he was being asked for the owner and licence holder’s name.

Raza told magistrates, via an interpreter, he gave Sala’s name as he believed he was being asked for the name of the car and business owner, who was Sala.

The defendants said they misunderstood questions asked of them and struggled as a result of English being their second language and the large number of officials present.

They were found guilty of wilfully obstructing a constable in the execution of their duty.

Magistrates attributed their findings to the "credibility" of two officers who gave evidence and body camera footage shown in court.

Nigel Body, mitigating, said the pair panicked on the evening of the incident and had suffered “an enormous strain” as a result.

He added: “No other substantive charges have arisen as a result of that night.”

Sala was fined £120 and Raza, who has a previous conviction for obstructing a constable in their duty, was fined £253.

They were each told to pay court costs of £625 and a £30 victim surcharge.