A BLACKBURN mother and her husband have appeared in court charged in connection with a multi-million pound burglary and car theft conspiracy.

Sireen Rafiq, 35, and her husband, Kashif Rafiq are jointly charged with others of conspiracy to commit 161 burglaries throughout the North West of England. Kashif Rafiq is also charged with conspiring with others to steal high value cars.

The charges relate to burglaries in which keys to high value vehicles were stolen and the subsequent theft of the cars with an estimated value of £8million.

Kashif Rafiq, 37, of Leadmill Street, Sheffield, is charged with conspiracy to commit burglaries and conspiracy to steal motor vehicles in Merseyside, Lancashire, Cheshire and Greater Manchester. Sireen Rafiq, 35, of Hancock Street, Blackburn, is charged with conspiring to commit burglaries.

Kashif Rafiq was sent in custody to Liverpool Crown Court where he will appear on November 19. Sireen Rafiq was remanded on bail to the same date.