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Forced marriage: Parents guilty of luring daughter to Bangladesh | Forced marriage: Parents guilty of luring daughter to Bangladesh |
(35 minutes later) | |
A couple have been found guilty of luring their 19-year-old daughter to Bangladesh in an attempt to force her to marry her first cousin and have a baby with him. | A couple have been found guilty of luring their 19-year-old daughter to Bangladesh in an attempt to force her to marry her first cousin and have a baby with him. |
Leeds Crown Court heard the teenager was lured to the country on a sham holiday in July 2016. | Leeds Crown Court heard the teenager was lured to the country on a sham holiday in July 2016. |
She was rescued after she texted her location to her boyfriend, who then told West Yorkshire Police. | She was rescued after she texted her location to her boyfriend, who then told West Yorkshire Police. |
The parents, who cannot be named, were convicted of forced marriage. | The parents, who cannot be named, were convicted of forced marriage. |
They were also found guilty of one count of using violence, threats or coercion to force their daughter into marriage, following a three-week trial. | They were also found guilty of one count of using violence, threats or coercion to force their daughter into marriage, following a three-week trial. |
The two defendants were told by Judge Simon Phillips QC to expect a "immediate imprisonment" when they are sentenced on June 18. | The two defendants were told by Judge Simon Phillips QC to expect a "immediate imprisonment" when they are sentenced on June 18. |
The verdict comes just a week after the UK's first prosecution for forced marriage when a Birmingham mother was jailed for four and a half years. | The verdict comes just a week after the UK's first prosecution for forced marriage when a Birmingham mother was jailed for four and a half years. |
'Disgusting' | 'Disgusting' |
The jury at the Leeds trial heard that the girl's parents had told her they were going on a six-week holiday to Bangladesh to visit relatives and celebrate Eid. | The jury at the Leeds trial heard that the girl's parents had told her they were going on a six-week holiday to Bangladesh to visit relatives and celebrate Eid. |
However, just days after arriving on July 3 2016, she was told by her father that he had found a husband for her. | However, just days after arriving on July 3 2016, she was told by her father that he had found a husband for her. |
More news from across Yorkshire | |
The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court: "He said 'I have planned this for years, the guy is really suitable, I've given him money for university, and he's a really attractive guy for round here'. | The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court: "He said 'I have planned this for years, the guy is really suitable, I've given him money for university, and he's a really attractive guy for round here'. |
"He was trying to get me to say yes, but at no point did I say yes. I thought it was disgusting because it was my first cousin and stood my ground." | "He was trying to get me to say yes, but at no point did I say yes. I thought it was disgusting because it was my first cousin and stood my ground." |
The teenager, from Leeds, was supposedly told she would "live like a queen" and that rejecting the proposal would "bring shame" on her parents. | The teenager, from Leeds, was supposedly told she would "live like a queen" and that rejecting the proposal would "bring shame" on her parents. |
She also said her mother had pressured her father into hitting her, based on the belief it would stop her "rebelling" against the marriage. | She also said her mother had pressured her father into hitting her, based on the belief it would stop her "rebelling" against the marriage. |
The teenager, who was studying for her A-levels at the time, had told her mother that, even if she was forced to marry, she would file a report to authorities saying what had happened. | The teenager, who was studying for her A-levels at the time, had told her mother that, even if she was forced to marry, she would file a report to authorities saying what had happened. |
She told the jury: "But my mum said there was no way that that would happen, because they were going to leave me there for a year so that I would get pregnant so that he [the first cousin] could get a visa." | She told the jury: "But my mum said there was no way that that would happen, because they were going to leave me there for a year so that I would get pregnant so that he [the first cousin] could get a visa." |
With the help of her younger sister, she was able to contact the British High Commission, who rescued her days before the wedding was due to take place. | With the help of her younger sister, she was able to contact the British High Commission, who rescued her days before the wedding was due to take place. |
The new offence of forced marriage came into effect in June 2014, but prosecutions have been rare. | The new offence of forced marriage came into effect in June 2014, but prosecutions have been rare. |
In June 2015, a man was jailed at Merthyr Crown Court for offences including forcing a woman into marrying him. | In June 2015, a man was jailed at Merthyr Crown Court for offences including forcing a woman into marrying him. |
Last week, the Birmingham mother was jailed for forcing her daughter to marry a relative almost twice her age. | Last week, the Birmingham mother was jailed for forcing her daughter to marry a relative almost twice her age. |
If you or someone you know has been affected by forced marriage you can find several organisations that may be able to help here. | If you or someone you know has been affected by forced marriage you can find several organisations that may be able to help here. |