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A general view of the home of Ilyas Ashar and his family in Manchester. Dave Thompson/PA Wire

British couple jailed for rape and trafficking of deaf girl

The girl, who could not speak, was trafficked from Pakistan to work as a servant.

A BRITISH COURT jailed an elderly couple today after a deaf girl who could not speak was trafficked from Pakistan to work as a servant and then repeatedly raped for nearly a decade.

Ilyas Ashar, 84, and his wife Tallat Ashar, 68, kept the girl in the cellar of their house in Salford, northwest England, after she was illegally brought to Britain in 2000 at the age of around 10.

Jailed

Ilyas Ashar was jailed for 13 years for raping the girl from before the age of puberty until she was rescued in 2009, while his wife was jailed for five years for trafficking a person for exploitation.

The couple were also convicted of using the girl, who is profoundly deaf and cannot speak, to fraudulently claim more than £30,000 (€35,000) in welfare payments.

The couple’s daughter Faaiza Ashar, 46, was sentenced to carry out community service after being convicted of giving false information to obtain benefits.

The victim cannot be named for legal reasons.

‘Misery and degradation’

Sentencing the couple at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, Judge Peter Lakin said the couple had subjected the girl “to a life of misery and degradation”.

You, Ilyas Ashar, and you, Tallat Ashar, did not treat this girl as a human being. To you she was merely an object to be used, abused and cast aside at will.

The girl had no family or friends in Britain and had never been to school there or in Pakistan but was taught to sign her name to claim state benefits, the trial heard. She wanted to return to her family in Pakistan but was not allowed to.

Ashar routinely raped her, despite her efforts to fight him off, and he also beat and slapped her if she did not follow orders.

Her plight was discovered after police and local authorities raided the house in 2009 and found her asleep in the cold and dark cellar.

The trial heard that the victim was now recovering with the help of social services.

- © AFP, 2013

Read: Deaf girl ‘kept in a cellar and used as sex slave’>

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    Mute Scott Hughes
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 4:21 PM

    How could you live with yourself..

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    Mute Michael G O'Reilly
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 4:38 PM

    That sentence isn’t long enough !!!

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    Mute Paul Somers
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 4:54 PM

    He raped and abused a child for 9 years, child locked in cellar – prison, and only got a 13 year sentence? WTF. Shame he cannot serve his sentence in Pakistan. It really does not bear thinking about. Sickening.

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    Mute Luke Sullivan
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 4:58 PM

    Just as bad – she only got 5 years and will be out in 2 likely.

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    Mute Paul Somers
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 5:22 PM

    Hopefully all their days are spent in a dark damp dungeon with vermin as the only source of heat. Delighted that she has come out of this a strong person. She should have the right to dictate the punishment. Hell is too good for them.

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    Mute Brian Jimp
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 5:44 PM

    The victim would probably have been jailed in Pakistan.

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    Mute Luke Sullivan
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 6:10 PM

    Well it turns out he’s now 84 years old, and she’s 66. So, he’ll definitely see his last days in jail. She on the other hand should have gotten a far harsher sentence when her age, and regular beatings with a rolling pin administered, and enabling, were factored in.

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    Mute Nelsonmuntz
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 6:27 PM

    He prob be dead in 13 years

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    Mute Kate Brennan Harding
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 6:52 PM

    It really does not matter what age the perpetrators are when sentenced. The point is the crime is horrific and they both got dreadfully short sentences.

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    Mute crankyrider
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 7:17 PM

    You beat me to that comment Paul,

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    Mute Luke Sullivan
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 4:32 PM

    13 years sentence for him was ridiculously lenient. A 5 year sentence for her is an immoral outrage.

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    Mute Jane Travers
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 6:17 PM

    Definitely, Luke. Though at least he’ll probably never be free again.

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    Mute Bronagh B.
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 4:35 PM

    No no no no no…
    I wish I could unread this. Heartbreaking.

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    Mute Andrea Rock Massey
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 8:58 PM

    That’s exactly how I felt. Just so awful! How many more children are suffering this fate right now?

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    Mute RiobairdOMaingain
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 4:23 PM

    Lowest of the low,how could you sleep at night the poor girl.

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    Mute Dirk Diggler
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 4:40 PM

    The really f***ing sad thing is ! We only hear 1% of these horror stories.

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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 4:33 PM

    Truly shocking what some “people” are capable of. Poor girl.

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    Mute Emma Morton
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 4:36 PM

    Jesus Christ what does be wrong with people?

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    Mute Silverharp Harp
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 4:28 PM

    He looks like an Asian Brendan Symth, there has to be a place in the prison system for hard labour, he shouldt die of old age in a heated cell.

    http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1412289/thumbs/o-ILYAS-ASHAR-facebook.jpg

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    Mute Paul Somers
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 4:56 PM

    Pakistan prison at least. I wish I could unread the article really sickening.

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    Mute Tnka Tanzy
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 6:30 PM

    He really looks like the animal he is

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    Mute Róisín McGuinness
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 4:29 PM

    Horrific!

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    Mute #thankyousiralex
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 5:54 PM

    Glad he got caught before he died.times like this I really hope this f*cker pays for what he did after he does die,regardless of religious beliefs…What that girl must have gone through,as if she hasn’t suffered enough in life

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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 9:44 PM

    That’s exactly what I think. Even if he expired tomorrow, I’d hope he has a lot of suffering ahead of him.

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    Mute Taxi Bill
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 6:27 PM

    Why are so surprised, it happens all the time in some countries, young girls are “married” off to old guys and are treated as virtual sex and domestic slaves.

    If I “marry” a six year old girl and “consummate” the marriage at nine they would rightly lock me up and throw away the key, but in many parts of the world they name their first born son after such a person. Funny that!!!!

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    Mute Declan Conway
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 7:46 PM

    Watch out Bill – here comes a fatwa!

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    Mute Davin Lynch
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 6:13 PM

    Hopefully he’ll get shanked and violated in prison.

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    Mute Billie Murphy
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 4:39 PM

    Heartbreaking

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    Mute Eamonn Dunne
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 7:09 PM

    So its not just our judges who give out stupid jail terms to the worst pieces of filth in society. Is slavery a small crime because I fail to see the logic of sentencing the wife for just 5 years.

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    Mute Leanne Ní Shíocháin
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 5:28 PM

    I know the sentence is ridiculously lenient, however he is 84 years old. Hopefully he won’t live to be 97 and will die alone locked in his prison cell.

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    Mute Squig Dublin
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 5:40 PM

    This is probably happening all over the world, horrific

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    Mute Jazz O'Gorman
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 4:42 PM

    A British couple, just doesn’t sound right.

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    Mute Qwerty
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 4:50 PM

    Trolling I see. :-P

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    Mute John F
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 4:53 PM

    “British”

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    Mute Leonora Hearty
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 4:54 PM

    This is about the horrific treatment of a poor vulnerable young girl and you say that?! You’re as low as they are. *facepalms for inability to ignore inhuman trolls*

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    Mute aisling doyle
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 4:56 PM

    For god sake jazz give it a rest … Or do you get up every morning and say yes I’m really going to piss people off today .

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    Mute Pat Culleton
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 8:51 PM

    They were from pakistan not british

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    Mute Jackie Jones
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 10:05 PM

    Be very careful they may remove your comment. It could be seen to be racist!!!

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    Mute Pat Culleton
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    Oct 24th 2013, 9:16 AM

    It is not racist. Just because they lived in britain does not make you british. My son has an australian passport but he is not australian .He is still british no matter how long he lives there.

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    Mute Leonora Hearty
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    Oct 24th 2013, 9:38 AM

    It doesn’t matter what they are, this girl was taken by them and treated worse than inhuman. This is not the place do be discussing their race. As some people here would do well to remember, that is immaterial when it relates to the welfare concerns of a child. I hope she’s doing better and is getting the help and support she needs. That’s all that matters.

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    Mute Roibeard Ó Riain
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 6:16 PM

    Its stories like this that make the death penalty seem justified. Poor girl trapped by animals!

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    Mute Terry .
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 6:10 PM

    Hang them !

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    Mute Val Kearney
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 5:16 PM

    What do be wrong with people at all, eh?

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    Mute Micheal Mac Seanlaoich
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 7:22 PM

    Don’t get why incidents like this get petty sentences, should get the death penalty in my opinion!

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    Mute Tom Sullivan
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 7:42 PM

    He should be dragged through the streets and be pelted with anything anyone has to hand, until he dies of exhaustion or injury. Even then, that wouldn’t be enough of a punishment for this odious individual. Ditto for his equally odious wife.

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    Mute Emer Daly
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 6:10 PM

    What the hell is wrong with some people.

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    Mute Ali Raza
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 6:17 PM

    He must be punished for life … Along his family how was knowing of it but never speak truth …

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    Mute Karl Paul
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 7:17 PM

    What a f@ßked up world we live in.

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    Mute micheal285
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 6:31 PM

    “Just Jailed” That’s disappointing .

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    Mute Iain O Draighneáin
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 6:43 PM

    they should be hung fro. the same rope

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    Mute James Barron
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 10:26 PM

    I love coming on the journal. I never know how I’m going to feel or what I’m going to think about after I’ve read some of the articles. Why just today, for the first time, I’ve found a situation where I would feel morally justified for keeping an 84 year old man in a basement and pimping him out for a decade while using him to claim welfare. That’s an interesting thought to have. Thanks journal!!!!

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    Mute Mitch Ellis
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 11:54 PM

    Far too soft a sentence for both of them. And the daughter only got community service as well…….SICK.

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    Mute Go Tobann
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    Oct 24th 2013, 12:00 AM

    A new type if punishment is required for these kind of crimes. I’m not advocating the return of capital punishment but there is a need for a fast penalty.

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    Mute Jackie Jones
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 9:59 PM

    May I ask why my comment has been deleted??

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    Mute kerryblue
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    Oct 24th 2013, 2:47 AM

    Stoned to Death would be too bloody good for them,Shatter would probularly give them Creche jobs if it happened over here

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    Mute Emily O Sullivan
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    Oct 24th 2013, 12:24 AM

    Not sure what you mean by stating nationalities. Surly it’s a barbaric n horrific crime against a vulnerable child. Wish I hadn’t read this, so sad :(

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    Mute Tarik Saddik
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 11:10 PM

    Raping a little girl for 10 yrs and got only 13 yrs imprisonment !!!! What a kind judge !!! Poor girl

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    Mute joe power
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    Oct 23rd 2013, 8:52 PM

    Sick

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    Mute Luarena Hanley
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    Oct 24th 2013, 4:18 AM

    They should be sent back to Pakistan to do their sentences there.that poor girl has the longest and worst sentence. ..life with the horrific memories

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