A family has been jailed for making a woman a house slave and abusing her for over 18 months.
The husband and four relatives forced his wife to drink engine oil and gave her death threats, a court heard.
Mohammed Shuaib Arshid, 28, came to the UK with his new wife after entering into an arranged marriage in Pakistan.
They moved into a house in Hillingdon, West London, shared with his father Arshid Sadiq, 54, mother Nabila Shaheen, 56, brother Aqeel Arshid, 32, and sister Zaib Arshid, 27.
Arshid’s relatives all subjected his wife to coercive behaviour including stopping her from calling her family and friends on her mobile phone without permission.
Mohammed Shuaib Arshid and four of his relatives were jailed for abusing his wife for 18 months, Isleworth Crown Court heard
She wasn’t permitted to leave home or have access to her personal identity documents.
The victim, who was also made to cook and clean each day before going to bed, couldn’t attend college, and as she had no cash, had to beg her abusive husband for money to buy basic toiletries.
She suffered long-term physical harm after being abused both mentally and physically by all five family members, between October 2017 and April 2019, in a shared home.
Mohammed Shuaib Arshid was jailed for three years consecutive to the eight year term for false imprisonment, making 11 years in total.
Arshid Sadiq was sentenced to seven years and three months imprisonment.
Nabila Shaheen was sentenced to four years and three months imprisonment.
Aqeel Arshid was sentenced to 21 months jail suspended for 18 months while Zaib Arshid was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months.
All five relatives were also made subject to an indefinite restraining order, preventing any further contact with the victim.
Paul Jenkins, a Senior District Crown Prosecutor for the CPS said: ‘The victim believed that they were moving into a safe family home with a loving husband, but the subsequent actions of Mohammed Shuaib Arshid, Arshid Sadiq, Nabila Shaheen, Aqeel Arshid and Zaib Arshid proved that this was not the case.
‘The victim was subject to regular abuse whilst under their care, resulting in serious physical and psychological harm.
‘This case demonstrates the willingness of the CPS to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice and our commitment to protect those who have been subject to controlling or coercive situations, securing protective orders wherever possible.’
The court heard that the woman was abused both mentally and physically by all five family members
A CPS spokesperson said ‘Being the victim of violence or sexual assault is undoubtedly a harrowing experience – but when this abuse is ‘honour based’, the challenges can often feel impossible to overcome.
‘If someone is seen to have dishonoured or brought shame on a family or community, they can be ‘punished’ through threatening behaviour, rape, kidnap, false imprisonment, female genital mutilation, forced marriage and even murder – also known as honour killings.
‘Honour-based abuse cases are some of the most complex the Crown Prosecution Service deals with. We know much of this abuse takes place in familial settings and tight-knit communities, often making it incredibly difficult for victims to come forward to report.
‘We want to support victims of this unacceptable violence; both honour-based abuse and forced marriage are illegal, and where our legal test is met, we will not hesitate to prosecute.
‘We can protect potential victims through anonymity, forced marriage protection orders and extra-territorial jurisdiction over offences committed abroad.
‘Whether you are a victim, or suspect you know someone who is, we would encourage you to come forward and report it.
‘Victims of this devastating crime deserve justice and you could help other potential victims.’
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk