Couple who kept deaf mute girl as slave to have 'possibly lenient' jail terms investigated

The Government has confirmed the 13 year prison term handed to Ilyas Ashar, 84, for rape, trafficking and benefit fraud is to be re-examined for being "possible unduly lenient".

Mr Ashar's wife, Tallat, 68, will also have her five year prison sentence for trafficking looked at.

When the couple were sentenced in October, Judge Peter Lakin said they were "deeply unpleasant, highly manipulative and dishonest people".

Today, a spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office said: “After careful consideration, the Solicitor General, Oliver Heald QC MP has decided to ask the Court of Appeal for permission to refer the sentences of Ilyas and Tallat Ashar as possibly unduly lenient.”

The girl was brought into the country in 2000 by the couple when she was aged around 10.

Over a nine year period she was repeatedly raped by Ilyas Ashar, and forced to sleep and work in the cellar of the couple's five-bedroom home in Eccles, near Salford.

The couple also used the girl to steal more than £30,000 in benefits.

The girl, now aged around 19 or 20, was made to cook, clean, wash clothes and iron for the Ashars.

She was also made to clean the houses and cars of their family and friends an she spent her days in the cellar packing football shirts, clothes and phone covers.

The girl had no family or friends in the UK and the only people she knew in the country were the Ashars, who said both of her parents were dead.

Labour MP Frank Field, who is chairman of the independent evidence review on the proposed Modern Slavery Bill, welcomed today's decision by the Attorney General.

He said: “Modern slavery is a heinous crime and I welcome the Government’s decision."
 
He added: “The effectiveness of the Modern Slavery Bill will be partially judged on the Government not having to review sentences at all as we will be starting from the basis of life sentences.”