A FATHER and three sons said to have put a "vulnerable" man in fear of violence in a three year harassment campaign, are all awaiting sentence.

Nek Alam, 72, Janghir Alam, 29, Zahir Alam, 33 and Zahoor Alam, 32, yesterday all pleaded guilty to putting Ghalib Hussain, 27, in fear of violence by harassment, between January 2007 and July 2010, at Burnley Crown Court.

Nek Alam is the victim's uncle and the other defendants are his cousins.

The defendants, all of Richmond Hill Street, Accrington, except Zahir Alam, who lives in Willows Lane, in the town, were all bailed until May 15, when they will be be sentenced by Judge Jonathan Gibson.

The four were all cleared of causing Mr Hussain grievous bodily harm with intent on June 26 2010, an alternative allegation of inflicting grievous bodily harm, making a threat to kill on the same date and a charge of false imprisonment between June 26, 2010 and July 1, 2010, on the judge's direction.

Janghir Alam had also been acquitted of two charges of battery and Zahoor Alam was found not guilty of one count of battery on the direction of the judge.

Judge Gibson discharged the jury from returning verdicts on one count of battery each against Janghir and Zahoor Alam and their father.

The crown had alleged Mr Hussain, an epileptic and said to have learning difficulties, had been ill-treated by the defendants after he had come to England in about 2006 as a result of an arranged marriage to Nek Alam's daughter, Sofia.

She had rejected him and he was said to have been left "stranded and alone" in the Alam household.

Mr Hussain, who could not read or write and did not speak English, had been unable to work because of his problems, and the prosecution alleged, the financial burden for his upkeep and care had fallen on the defendants, particularly Nek Alam.

Prosecutor Jeremy Lasker had told the jury that certain members of the victim's family had described him as "slow in the head" and had continued: " It's pretty clear that he was not regarded with much affection by his relatives."

Mr Hussain, a Pakistani national, had given evidence to the jury for several days, screened from the defendants. He had been accompanied by carers who now look after him.