FOUR members of an Accrington family have appeared in court over allegations that a man with learning difficulties was kept as a slave.

They appeared at Burnley Crown Court yesterday over allegations that the 26-year-old man from Accrington was kept against his will and subjected to beatings.

The allegations date back over a two year period from January 2007 until July 2010.

The man, a Pakistani national, was found with a fractured hip by officers.

Janghir Alam, 28, of Richmond Hill Street, Accrington, and Zahir Alam, 32, of Willows Lane Accrington, who have been charged with eight counts of grevious bodily harm, making a threat to kill, false imprisonment and battery pleaded not guilty on Monday.

Nek Alam, 71, Zahoor Alam, 32, also of Richmond Hill Street, Accrington, did not enter a plea as they are raising objections to the indictment and a dismissal hearing has been scheduled for October 27.

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