Blackburn family members sentenced for violent bid to bring back sister (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Blackburn family members sentenced for violent bid to bring back sister

3:10pm Saturday 20th March 2010 in

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A TEENAGE woman, who had broken away from her family, was bundled into a car from a busy street and kept at a house for 90 minutes by relatives, a court heard.

Tanzeela Hanif, then 19, was lured to a city centre before being taken back to Blackburn, where she was made to take a pregnancy test.

Bradford Crown Court was told that the family, led by eldest brother Sajid Hanif, had acted out of concern for the well-being of their sister, but had gone too far.

She had been punched during her ordeal by Sajid and threatened with a hammer by another brother.

Five members of her family were sentenced, along with a close friend.

Judge Peter Benson said relatives had genuine concerns for Tanzeela and reported her missing.

But he told brothers Sajid and Wajid Hanif: "It was clear to you she had taken a conscious decision to stay clear of the family influence. Whether that was wise on her part was immaterial because at the age of 19 she has a right to choose her way of life."

Sajid Hanif, 35, and his 29-year-old wife Sheena, both of Darwen, and Wajid Hanif, 33, and Lee Gilligan, 23, of Blackburn, pleaded guilty to affray at a previous hearing. Lubna Hanif, 29, a solicitor, and Asim Hanif, 24, also of Blackburn, admitted threatening behaviour.

Prosecutor Jonathan Sharp said Tanzeela, the youngest child, had been living at a women's refuge in Bradford at the time of the incident in July last year.

He said the family devised a plan to bring her back home, which involved someone ringing her and impersonating a police officer and persuading her to meet in Bank Street, Bradford.

Mr Sharp said Sheena told the 19-year-old: "This is what I have to do, Tanzeela. You have to go home."

Sajid was behind her waving his fist. Gilligan, Lubna and Asim were also present, and the teenager was bundled into one of the cars and driven to Blackburn where she was taken to an empty house owned by Lubna.

Mr Sharp said Tanzeela was subjected to further violence, primarily by Sajid.

Gilligan and Asim bought a pregnancy test kit and the victim was required to use it in the presence of Sheena. Wajid joined in the abuse of his sister, picking up a hammer and threatening to kill her.

Jailing Sajid for 21 months, Judge Benson said he had treated his sister with deliberate cruelty and used gratuitous violence. He said Wajid's conduct was disgraceful and cowardly and jailed him for 12 months.

Gilligan was given a six-month sentence suspended for two years, with 12 months supervision and 100 hours unpaid work; Sheena was given a four-months sentence suspended for two years and 12 months supervision; Lubna was given a 12-month Community Order with 120 hours unpaid work and Asim a similar order with 80 hours unpaid work.