84-year-old man convicted for repeatedly raping deaf and mute girl

A deaf and mute girl was kept in a cellar and repeatedly raped for a decade, a court has heard.

The child from Pakistan – now believed to be 19 – was trafficked to Britain so her captors could claim £30,000 in benefits.

She was repeatedly raped, beaten and forced to work for Ilyas Ashar and his family at their home in Eccles, Salford.

They taught the girl how to communicate in sign language and write to claim her benefits.

The passport used when the girl entered the country in 2000 claimed she was 20 and it was a matter of 'mystery and concern' how immigration officials at Heathrow Airport did not spot the lie.

She was made to cook, clean, do the washing and ironing for the Ashars and clean the homes of their family and friends.

While Ashar repeatedly raped her, the girl was made to spend her days in the cellar packing football shirts, clothes and mobile phone covers.

She had no family or friends here and never went to school.

Despite her disabilities, the girl was intelligent and a 'remarkably resilient young woman', the court heard.

Two female jurors at Minshull Street crown court in Manchester wept as Ilyas Ashar, 84, was convicted of 13 counts of rape.

He and wife Tallat, 68, were convicted at an earlier trial of trafficking, exploitation and benefit fraud.

His daughter, Faaiza, 46, was also convicted of benefit fraud.

Judge Peter Lakin revoked Ilyas Ashar's bail after hearing how his electronic tag 'came off'.

He said: 'In my judgment cases such as this, with defendants facing substantial custodial sentences, there is always the significant temptation of defendants not attending here when required.'

Sentencing takes place next week. - Metro