A BOSNIAN woman has appeared before Blackburn magistrates charged in connection with the so-called 'black magic burglaries.'

Nadia Ramic, 42, described in court as an asylum seeker of "removable status", is charged with burglaries in Blackburn and Accrington in March when thousands of pounds worth of jewellery was stolen.

The victims in both cases were Muslim women who were told a curse had been put on their families, police said at the time.

One of them was made to believe that a mouse had hatched from an egg she had brought from the fridge and both were persuaded to wrap their jewellery in a scarf and then place it inside their clothing, the court was told.

After their homes had been sprinkled with holy water they were told to wait a short time and then open the scarf in order to remove the curse, the court was told.

But both women found that their real jewels had been replaced with worthless trinkets and coins although they had no idea how or when, the court was told.

Ramic, who gave an address in Birmingham, was said to have exhausted all her appeal rights under the asylum system and could be removed from the country at any time.

Criminal proceedings against her would not necessarily delay that removal, the court was told.

Stephen Parker, defending, said the immigration situation and what the Home Office may or may not do was no concern of the court.

Ramic was remanded in custody until April 22.