FOUR men who beat and threatened a teenage boy in a ‘racially-motivated honour attack’ have been jailed.

Preston Crown Court heard how the defenceless 16-year-old victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was kidnapped and kicked to the head and body while on the floor.

The court heard Khizum Baig, 29 and Mirza Baig, 49, Saqib Baig, 29, and Ghazanfar Mirza, 38, carried out the vicious attack because they did not approve of a relationship the teenager was involved in with a local girl.

The court heard how the victim was walking along a East Park Road in Blackburn at 6.30pm on March 7, last year, when he was approached by Ghazanfar, who convinced him to get into his car.

Ghazanfar then drove at speed to Beechwood Court and contacted his co-defendants.

Saqib demanded the victim’s mobile phone and punched him in the face through the car window.

Taxi driver Mirza Baig, of Blackthorn Close, Blackburn, then said: “Just kill him. Just finish him.”

The victim was then dragged out of the car and kicked in the head, body and arms while he was on the floor.

While that attack was going on the defendants were shouting: “Kill him. Hit him. Murder him.”

The victim was then put back in the car and Ghazanfar told him: “It could have been worse. Next time it would be.”

The victim was then driven to Granville Road, Blackburn, where he was released.

Following the attack the victim was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital where he was asked by police what he thought the motivation for the assault was.

Telling officers it was because of his ethnicity, the victim added: “They told me you should find your own kind. You shouldn’t be messing with our blood.”

All four men pleaded guilty to affray. Saqib Baig, of Beechwood Court, Blackburn, also pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding, Khizum Baig, of Blackthorn Close, Blackburn, to assault by beating, and Ghazanfar Mirza, of Rosewood Avenue, Blackburn, to false imprisonment.

Mirza Baig was jailed for 21 months, Khizum Baig sentenced to 30 months and Saqib Baig handed a three year sentence. Ghazanfar Mirza was jailed for 30 months.

Judge Sara Dodd said: “It has always been the prosecution case this was a racially-aggravated incident. One of you said to the victim ‘you should find your own kind, you shouldn’t be messing with our blood'. This is a case of honour.”

Det Sgt Rachel Higson, of Lancashire Police, said: "This was a truly shocking offence involving the kidnap and violent assault of a teenage boy in Blackburn.

"The men had targeted the victim because of the relationship he had with a local girl. The attack was premeditated and involved the use of a weapon, with the boy requiring hospital treatment for significant head injuries.

"We must praise the victim who, despite the clearly threatening and violent behaviour of the group, reported the incident to police.

"The four offenders are dangerous individuals and we welcome today's sentence. 

"There is no honour in attacking a defenceless child, only shame. 

"There is no room for such barbaric behaviour in today's society."

Annabelle Hartley, for the CPS, said: “This was a pre-planned and unprovoked attack on a 16 year old boy as he walked in the street.

"I am in no doubt that this violence was motivated by so called honour and racism.  Although the victim and his girlfriend had been together for some time, they had endeavoured to keep their relationship secret, particularly from their families.  However, when her family found out, they took severe steps to warn off the victim.

“All four defendants eventually took responsibility for their actions by entering guilty pleas on the day of the trial.

"The CPS and Lancashire police are dedicated to tackling honour based crime. We will not tolerate those who take the law into their own hands, for whatever reason, and will bring before the courts those who choose to do so.”