Kidnapped and Drugged for Family Honour

Police on their way to a petrol station in Lancashire.

SIREN WAILS

Once there, they discover a 23-year-old woman in a car.

She's been drugged and kidnapped.

She was very drowsy, couldn't lift her head up, couldn't get herself out of the vehicle.

When he's assaulted you, what has he been saying to you?

He said to me basically, he'd kill me.

Did you think you were going to die?

I thought my life was in danger, yeah.

She's broken a code that goes back hundreds of years,

built around what's seen as a sacred trust - the family honour.

Honour, or izzat, is respect, status.

The reality is power and control.

Women's behaviour has to fit in with whatever men have to say.

There are thousands of other young people like her in Britain today,

who live in fear of their own families.

But very few are prepared to talk about it.

This film, two years in the making, tells one shocking story.

Do you understand that you are under arrest?

BEEPING

OK.

Family honour - that's the main thing that keeps coming up

instead of happiness.

PHONE RINGS

This afternoon we need to speak to a 16-year-old girl

who has been told that her family

are going to pack her off to Pakistan to marry

a 26-year-old relative.

Lancashire Police have two units

dedicated to tackling so-called honour crime,

including forced marriages, false imprisonment and assault.

If we do bring charges, we'll bring the family back in early...

This programme tells the inside story of the investigation

of a crime that split a family apart.

It's now just going through what we need for CPS.

This team, based in Blackburn, have dealt with more than 60 cases

in the last 12 months.

Almost all of them have involved girls under 21 being forced into marriages

they don't want - otherwise face emotional blackmail or much worse.

Parents are prepared to harm their own children

in order to protect this, um, this THING that they call honour.

Shabana is 23 and a victim of that code of honour.

She's one of the latest cases for the Blackburn team.

Shabana isn't her real name, and we've blurred her face

and altered her voice at her request.

It took me a lot of courage to run away from my family.

So many times I decided to go and then I was like,

"No, I love my family.

"My family's here." You just...

There's always that family barrier thing stopping you from going away.

And then, I don't know, I just came to a point where I thought,

"I've got no more choices or options," and I just had to do it.

I just had to make the decision for myself. So I just went.

Shabana ran away from her mother's home where she lived,

rather than going through with a forced marriage to a cousin.

She went to another city

and met and fell in love with a young Muslim man there.

I didn't want my life to end up in a question mark

so I thought, "Yeah, let's get married.

"What can be more beautiful than that - to have a marriage?"

It's the Islamic way as well and it's legal.

So we got married and I was so happy.

That was the happiest day of my life. Seriously.

And like, I don't know, it was just 24/7 him, him, him, him.

Same for him - he treats me like a princess.

But her happiness was to be short-lived.

When Shabana's family found out about her secret marriage,

some of them were very unhappy.

They never liked him, that's the thing. They'd fake it on the face.

They've never ever liked him.

Shabana tried to reconcile matters with them

but while she was staying without her husband

at her sister's house in January 2010, matters came to a head.

It didn't feel right. I said, "No, I want to go.

"I just have to go." But they wouldn't let me.

While Shabana was at her sister's, her mother,

brother and brother-in-law went to her new home.

Her brother climbed through the kitchen window of the house,

and Shabana's husband says he was threatened,

and her belongings, passport and marriage certificate taken away.

They blackmailed him and said,

"You've got two weeks to prove yourself, otherwise you're not getting her back."

SIREN WAILS

Her husband, concerned about Shabana's welfare, alerts police.

Later that same night, they track down her whereabouts

and order the car she's in to rendezvous with them at a petrol station.

Shabana is a car being driven by her brother-in-law,

supposedly to take her back to her husband.

She was under the influence of something - we didn't know what.

She couldn't talk properly.

She was slurring her words. We could hardly get a name off her.

Pretty much had to carry her back to our police vehicle.

She was slurry and her eyes were all over the place really.

She didn't look well at all.

Because of Shabana's condition, she is sent to a nearby hospital.

She's treated and samples of her blood and urine are taken.

What she tells police that night,

starts a process that will end with five members of her family being arrested.

The next day, the Community Cohesion Unit of Lancashire Police

based in Blackburn, begins further investigations into what Shabana has said.

Cos she made a disclosure to the officer

about being unwell after having this drink.

Shabana is discharged from hospital and brought to the police station.

Well, she's been discharged. Er, she's feeling a bit groggy.

Detectives questioning her suspect she may have been drugged

or poisoned through a drink she'd been given -

hot, sweet milk.

-See you later. Bye.

-Have you had that before? This sweet milk before?

No.

How long was it before you felt really ill after you had a mouthful of this drink?

I was fine and then as soon as I went in the living room to sit down,

I don't know what...

I wasn't even prepared for it, I just puked.

-And it was like my eyes were half shut.

-So you've thrown up in the house?

Yeah, and there was everybody talking to each other.

And I don't know who's wiping my face. I don't know what's going on.

When you said that everyone was talking and you could hear

different people talking, could you hear what the conversation was like?

-I don't know. I was just like knocking out, like blacking out.

-Crap.

Next minute, someone's holding me to take me outside the house.

My brother-in-law got in the van - he was the driver.

They went to a petrol station and then after that, all I can remember

is a police guy knocking on the window and asking me if I'm all right.

And it was confusing cos I didn't know where he'd come from

because who had reported to the police what's going on?

-It was your husband.

-He opened the door and he got my stuff for me and he grabbed me out.

And he helped me in the van. After that, I don't remember nothing.

Right, I've got enough just to speak to Bobby

-and then we can go back right from the beginning. Sorry about that.

-It's OK.

It's just something I've to get done by two o'clock.

Now he's got the extra information,

DC Dave Souch is anxious to brief his boss straight away.

We got her to get straight to the point about what...

about what's gone on before we start doing any in-depth work and bits and pieces.

I'll get a statement from her, if she's happy to provide one.

-So when did you make the decision to go?

-I decided quite a few times.

PC Angela Harwood is getting some background about why Shabana left home.

I just couldn't take any more at all.

Do you know, forget it, I don't want to be here.

Then I just felt so helpless and hopeless.

Following Shabana's account of what's happened,

police believe they now have enough grounds to start making arrests.

They plan to search the sister's house for any evidence,

particularly relating to that hot, sweet milk.

-We're looking for a mug, that's all she knows.

-What colour?

What colour was the mug you drank out of? A white mug?

-Is it a standard mug or is it?

-It's more a curved, round mug.

-A curved round mug, Richard. White. Curved, round mug - white.

-Round.

And white.

-What was the drink?

-Milk.

-Hot.

-Hot milk.

-And whereabouts did you put the mug down?

-What room?

-Put it back on the sink.

-Put it back on the sink in the kitchen.

-Colin's coming.

-Yeah?

Right. Um.

They were saying to me, "Get a divorce.

"Any guy would do but not him."

-Was he angry?

-Shabana recalls how her brother first came to her house.

It was a terrifying experience.

He said, "If you don't open the door I'm going to bash it in."

He sounded angry and aggressive.

-Were you frightened when he was banging on the door?

-Yeah. Very frightened.

-Shall we crack on?

-Yes.

-Right, thanks for coming.

Basically we're going to execute a warrant to a corner terrace house.

I'll just give you some background in relation to the job.

PC Richard Jarram is briefing the arrest team.

She was going to ne forced into a marriage against her will.

There's plenty of backup but he's planning a low-key approach.

We've had a quick look at the address as a fly-by fiscal visit.

As I say, it's an end terrace house with a UPVC door.

I'm assuming that we're going to be knocking on entry rather than using force.

The warrant's here for you.

So what we're looking for is a curved, round mug, white,

maybe part of a set.

Any medicine or signs of medicine having been crushed up,

or any of what you'd consider to be a noxious substance that's at hand.

The car in which she was in, is a Toyota Estima

and it's outside the address.

Oh, yeah, that's good.

I've literally just finished taking a statement with her.

All she wants to do is go back to be reunited with husband.

They are now moving him to a safe house.

The Lancashire Police team are on the way

to make their arrests at Shabana's sister's house.

Shabana is signing a statement that will be

the basis of the evidence against her family.

Whether we find anything it's going to be difficult.

We may end up seizing a lot of items

because to the naked eye

we might not see what we're looking for, but after forensic examination

we might actually find the vital bit of evidence.

-Hiya, sorry to bother you. Richard Jarram from the police.

-Yes.

-May we come in?

-Yes.

We have a search warrant to search this address.

Your sister's made certain allegations that we're following up, OK?

Hello, sir. Are you husband?

OK, I'm going to inform you that you're under arrest on suspicion of administering poison.

The first arrest is Shabana's brother-in-law.

He was driving the car she was found in.

Anything you do say may be given in evidence.

Do you understand that you're under arrest?

Just over here.

Next to be arrested are Shabana's father and her sister.

-Sit behind this seat.

-This seat?

-Yes.

-PHONE RINGS

-Richard Jarram.

Hi, Angie.

Yeah, three arrested. On our way to Greenbank.

Back at the police station,

detectives decide that Shabana needs to stay overnight in a hotel, to allow her to rest

and come in for further questioning in the morning.

I need accommodation for a single female for tonight quite urgently, please.

Thank you. Come on, chuck. I'm waiting for a car to turn up

so I can take you to somewhere to get your head down.

As Shabana leaves, her father and two other members of her family

are brought in for questioning.

She's taken a big step.

-If you come in here...

-No, come in.

Shabana's brother-in-law arrives at the police station.

He's destined to play a major part in this family drama.

BUZZER

Richard Jarram reports back to his bosses on what the search of the sister's home has uncovered.

The cups at the house, there's a number that match the description

-but they've all been washed.

-Yes.

-And they've all been put away.

-There's nothing that stands out as the obvious instrument.

-Right.

Obviously we need to know how fast the forensics

will turn round on the blood to tell us whether there's anything...

-Is that urine as well?

-Yeah. I think urine sample as well.

So that's just being checked now.

We've got them till about three o'clock tomorrow if necessary, haven't we?

-Was it about three o'clock?

-Half three.

-All right. So we've plenty of time.

The detectives discuss the plan of action for the next day.

Shabana is required to give vital information

before she rejoins her husband.

There may be stuff to clarify after the interviews.

-Yeah.

-We may need another interview with her.

-We'll then take her back home.

-Yeah.

And the agreement is that if we take her back,

-we get a statement off husband.

-Right.

The first of Shabana's family to be questioned is her brother-in-law.

He's requested a lawyer to be present.

INDISTINCT CONVERSATION

We've met her and she's been practically passed out in the vehicle.

She didn't want to go back.

A kidnap.

The whole family are... So we'd normally base this on the forced marriage thing. Yeah?

Whilst her brother-in-law is questioned, Shabana heads for her hotel.

Her revelations have left the police with many unanswered questions.

We've got a girl who, for whatever reason,

has become stupefied by a chemical of some description.

Um, we don't know what the reason for that was.

Is it just to be able to control someone?

Right up to, is it to do someone some serious harm?

In which case, you go from one low spectrum of seriousness right up to, potentially, murder.

She's had a drink of warm, sweet milk.

And then, within five minutes, she's throwing up.

Um, it's difficult to say what on earth was in that

to make her be sick.

It's all going to come down to toxicology reports as to what is actually in her system.

It's been a long day and night

but the detectives need to meet to compare notes.

'There's an awful lot that we don't know.'

Where she went in the car, which way the car was heading.

Was she going where she wanted to go?

Was she going against her own will?

And obviously they're lines of enquiry.

Do you want to give taped disclosure?

I think we ought to in this case

just in case that toxicology comes back as being iffy.

The stories of the family members need to be crosschecked.

Dave and Richard begin with Shabana's sister,

someone she was very close to.

She reveals that she saw her brother hitting Shabana during an argument.

Brother's turned round and basically turned round

and said, "You, wind your neck in.

-"Do as you're told. I am going got tell her how it is."

-Right.

She said he was angry - mad, in effect.

So they've gone into the living room and he starts talking

about disrespecting people and actually pushes her onto the sofa.

-Right.

-At some point, brother has belted her across the face.

-Yeah.

-Did she not mention that?

No, that's not mentioned in her statement.

-So she's got a belt out of this.

-Right.

-She said, "I want to go."

Brother's saying, "You ain't.

"You're stopping here for a couple of days. You're doing this.

-"You ain't leaving."

-Right.

So we've got a nice little false imprisonment from a witness there.

The person doing all the talking and the bawling was her brother.

He was the one making all the demands on people.

And he was the one who was livid.

Right.

People are going to have to start to answer some very awkward questions

and then it will come down to why has that happened to her?

Explain.

And then, no doubt, we can then go down the roads of

dishonouring the family, disrespecting the family, big insults,

how it affects their community standing.

And see what they have to say.

Shabana's father is asked about that honour issue.

I said, "Well, you keep mentioning this honour,

"about bringing shame to the family, dishonouring...

"You know, bringing disgrace to the family, and that."

So he explained that, no, no, no,

although people do believe in that, other people, but he doesn't.

The police case is building, and the detectives decide to arrest Shabana's brother.

But because they've heard he was violent toward his sister,

Dave Souch calls in some support.

Unfortunately, we don't know a great deal about this lad,

if he's handy or anything.

That's why we like a section van there to transport him back to Greenbank.

OK?

Thank you very much. Cheers, mate.

What we're going to do is, lock him up first,

keep him away from other family members, and then part four bail...

..those who are already in custody, and then we deal with him in the morning.

CAR ALARM

You're going to be arrested on suspicion of administering

a noxious fluid, and taken to Blackburn police station.

Shabana's brother is the fourth member of the family to be arrested.

Can I just text my partner to let them know that's what's happening?

No, not at this stage. We'd speak to the custody sergeant, and he'd do it for you.

Shabana's brother has a powerful role within the family.

I'm authorising your detention here at the moment to secure and preserve evidence,

and obtain evidence by questioning.

Dad's never been around much in the family.

And my big brother's always been there.

He's the one who thinks... He is the one that's responsible, type of thing.

Like, he's well known.

When he walks around people are going to say to him, "Oh, where's your sister gone?"

Like, he's going to get the blame for it, type of thing.

It's like, shame for him.

Like, he won't be able to bear it, that's what he said to me.

What we're finding is several families think that what

makes them what they are is this issue of honour.

That their children, their grandchildren have to maintain it.

And if they don't maintain it, there are consequences.

In this case, Shabana's brother is most concerned about that.

As he's being taken into a holding cell,

Shabana's brother-in-law is being questioned.

Right, the type is 00, 00 on...

He's requested a solicitor,

and she reads a statement that he's prepared.

It contains a revelation that gives the police a major lead.

-FROM RECORDING:

-'There is a prepared statement,

'it's pretty limited due to the language,

'but it will just give a bit of background, and I think it might just help.

'"I went to pick the children up, and when I came back

'"I found out from my brother-in-law that they had given her something.

'"Mother-in-law and brother-in-law were having this conversation.

'"I suspected it to be Shamrez, and he said, I have given her something."'

When Dave Souch returns after arresting Shabana's brother, Shamrez,

he's told about the brother-in-law's statement.

He's given a sort of prepared statement,

but he's basically said, yeah, everything up to Tuesday,

mother-in-law, brother has turned up, all very angry, quite apparent.

Brother-in-law intimates, "Yeah, I've give her summat."

Sorry?

He says, "I can tell by looking at her she's been given something." That's on his prepared statement.

So, spoke to the solicitor, she's prepared to let him answer them questions,

and what he thinks the brother has meant

when he said he's given her something, what does he mean.

-Or somebody did.

-Yeah, so just bear that in mind for the interview.

Yeah.

Detective sergeant Colin Dassow also reports up the line about

what the brother-in-law has been saying about Shabana's brother, Shamrez.

Shamrez has said to him, "I've given her something." Right?

Now, Shamrez is the one that Richard went to arrest,

he's currently in the cells...

Yeah, who we think's done it.

And he's there present at all the bad stuff.

So, it's all coming about, really.

DC Sal Yusuf, who interviewed the brother-in-law, is delighted with how it went.

It took me all of four minutes, no, 15 minutes to do the caution,

and then within two minutes I'd had the confession.

The news about the brother-in-law's interview is spreading.

-I think there's a little bit of a cough coming on here.

-I hope so.

-No, from Sal's interview with the brother-in-law.

-Brother-in-law, yeah.

When the brother, Shamrez, is interviewed, he admits to hitting his sister, Shabana.

Dave Souch also questions him about his visit to Shabana's house when she was away.

Shabana's sister and father are going home on bail to return at a later date.

Both have said they know nothing of any plot against Shabana.

Her sister rejects the allegations against her,

and says she is very close to Shabana.

Shabana's father is separated from her mother,

and is stunned by the charges against him.

You've no suicide or self-harm issues?

-I won't.

-"I won't," he said.

That's good enough for me.

People do, unfortunately, so we have to ask the questions.

Don't tempt fate like that.

The next morning, the detective team meet

to update everyone on what's been happening, and chew the case over.

OK, let's run through yesterday's job.

Our concerns are, that if she's been drugged,

what was the purpose of the journey in the car?

Was it to take her back to be with family?

Or was there some more sinister motive?

Whenever I went round the address,

it was always they were expecting cops to arrest them.

It was all so matter-of-fact, "You're under arrest."

Yeah, brother clearly knows what he should and shouldn't be saying

at this stage, like, "I don't need a solicitor, what can a solicitor

"actually tell me to say to you what I don't already know?"

Richard and Angela are going to examine the car Shabana was found in.

They doubt the brother-in-law's claim he was driving her back to her husband.

Why they acted the way they have when she's quite clearly ill,

when they should be thinking about taking her to a hospital,

which any reasonable person would be in those circumstances...

The course of action they've taken is bizarre.

It wouldn't be bizarre if their intention was to stupefy her

so she doesn't put up any resistance.

Or to stupefy her to harm her in some way.

At the pound where the car is being held,

a police photographer has already arrived to start capturing pictures

that may be useful for the investigation.

Richard discovers something that may be of interest.

It's a bowl, like a washing-up bowl.

It's got a couple of tissues in, by the looks of it,

and what appears to be bile.

Which would confirm that our lady was sick.

And perhaps she was sick,

or they'd got this ready for if she was sick in the car.

Now, I'm going to take that satnav that's at the front.

Can you just mind over, please?

The vehicle's satellite navigation device is also taken away for analysis.

It can be crucial evidence, really, because they may have

programmed in certain addresses in different towns.

In the end, however, the satnav doesn't reveal anything useful.

Dave and Angela arrive at the hotel to pick up Shabana after she's had some sleep.

Four of her family have now been arrested.

You look a lot healthier, today.

Most of us didn't finish till about three o'clock this morning, so we've had a busy day.

Today, police will complete Shabana's formal statement.

They've waited till now to help her recover from her ordeal.

Right, yesterday, where do we go?

During interview, a couple of things have come out.

The main one is your brother was, in fact, absolutely raging. He was mad.

And you've been taken into the living room where he's assaulted you.

He's given you a good belt across the face,

and he's pushed you onto the sofa.

-Do you recall that?

-Yeah.

-Right.

OK, we just need to take a quick statement to clarify

what actually happened in the morning.

She's remembered loads of stuff.

One line that she can remember hearing was her mum going,

"Oh, my God, you lot are stupid, she's vomiting, she's being sick.

"You've made her sick."

-There weren't going to let her out of the house.

-That's all right. No problem.

The police unit at Blackburn specialises in honour crime,

so they're experienced in dealing with cases like this,

and threats like those Shabana says her brother used.

When he's assaulted you, what's he been saying to you?

He said to me, basically, he'll kill me.

Did he say, "I'll kill you if you don't do this, that and the other"?

No, it was just like, "I'm going to kill you."

I kept saying, "I want to go to my husband." I was scared, obviously.

You know, I was on my own.

-Did you believe that your brother would kill you at that time?

-Yeah.

-OK.

Then he said, "You're not getting your phone back.

"You're not going back."

-Basically they came to take me back with them.

-How do you know that?

Because they burned my stuff.

They said, "You're not going back there and you're coming back with us."

That's when my mum said, "Sit down and we'll talk about this.

I said to my sister,

"Please pass me your house phone," and I'd ring the police."

That's when my brother said to me,

-"I'll kill you before they even arrive here."

-OK.

-Who was blocking your way?

-My brother was in front of me, my mum

was on the left, my brother-in-law was next to my brother.

They were all around me.

-Was he angry at the time he told you he'd kill you?

-Very angry.

I kept saying that I wanted to go to my husband,

and, "You can't touch me."

Cos he was touching me.

That's when he physically pushed me down again and slapped me twice.

Hang on. How did he hit you? Fist? Hand?

He slapped me twice. I think that's because of that as well.

When he hit me, it was like... everything echoed. Very like numb.

My cheeks were stinging. I think that's because of that.

The only person that was shocked like me was my sister.

We were proper shocked.

-Did you start crying?

-I was crying already.

I panicked because I knew I was alone. They can do anything.

-Did you think you were going to die?

-I thought my life was in danger, yeah.

Prompted by Shabana's revelations,

the police set off to make another arrest.

She says that she recalls her mum saying

when she was in this disorientated state,

I think her exact words were, "Oh, God, look what you have done.

"You lot, look what you lot have done."

She has been sick which intimates that the family have done something to her to make her ill.

Hello. Are you all right?

She's not going to be very long, your wife.

We are ready to interview her now.

Shabana's mother becomes the fifth

and final member of the family to be taken in for questioning.

-How did you get on with the young lady?

-Eight pages.

-You still doing it?

-Just finished it.

She has had a sleep. She has got whatever was inside her out of her system.

Very matter of fact. This is how it was.

Which is nice because it ties in with what lots of other people

have said in interviews.

Yes, she was belted by her brother.

He has threatened to kill her and she believed he was going to do it.

Poor girl.

Munover Shah a Muslim link worker at the police station checks on how

Shabana is bearing up under the strain.

Eat something at least.

You need to flush out whatever it was.

Don't say, "I don't want to eat." You need to eat to keep you going.

To fight against what is coming.

You need to keep yourself intact.

Whatever you want to say, whatever's in your heart and mind, just tell them and they will sort you out.

Where are you going now?

I dressed up because I thought I was going to go to my husband today.

I hope I do because I really miss him now. I really do.

-Aw!

-When he sees me, I don't want him to get worried.

That is why I dressed up. I am going to put on a brave face.

Be strong for him as well.

The way things are happening,

I think the community needs to learn

that they need to talk to the children.

What you can do with honour

in the first place, then dishonour won't come upon you.

If you sort yourself out in the first place. You need to speak

to your children and meet them halfway.

With her statement complete, officers are taking Shabana

to be reunited with her husband at a secret location.

The journey gives her time to reflect on the attitudes of some

in the community around her.

I think it is a real shame for the family

if the girl goes away to get married with her own choice.

Even sometimes if it's with your own cousin, they don't accept it.

I don't know. Sometimes it is not even about marriage, it is about a girl working.

Some families in Pakistan, they don't let you work either.

Some girls, they are really close to their parents

and they don't want to hurt their parents.

Their parents could come round to it and accept the marriage

and the children.

Some parents don't.

Obviously, they want you dead on the spot.

Or they don't want to know you at all.

It all comes down to family honour and shame.

That's what it really is about.

A week after arresting five members of Shabana's family on suspicion of poisoning,

the police take their evidence

to a lawyer from the Crown Prosecution Service.

Lisa Worsley will decide what charges could be brought against members of the family.

I'm just wondering, kidnap is the obvious charge for carting her off.

I have looked briefly at administration of the noxious substance.

We need to establish by forensics what that was.

We have got the initial hurdle of proving,

A - that they are in her system, B - that they have been put there

illegally and they are not something she has voluntarily ingested.

That the concentration of them is such that they must have been hidden.

And that they are solely responsible for the reaction that was observed.

Harassment?

False imprisonment is a starter, isn't it?

That was before the point at which she was administered whatever she was administered.

You would expect her to have a recollection of that.

I am reluctant to go back to her. We have already got two statements.

I am reluctant to go back to her too many times

because it looks like we are coaching her and prompting her.

From reading the investigation,

it is all about family honour from the family side.

Even if they have not caused her to be in that state,

they know what her symptoms are.

We were not there,

but it is only when this drink is given to her

that she becomes ill.

It is almost like it is a last-ditch attempt to stop her from going back.

I will have a look at the content of conversations again.

The harassment is probably a non-starter, but worth consideration.

No problem. Thanks for your time.

So, you will be in touch?

The police have recovered Shabana's belongings which were taken from her home.

Nearly two weeks after the arrests, they are taking them

back to her new safe house.

The detectives have heard Shabana is not happy with the location

that has been chosen for her hideaway.

She is fully aware that she stands out among this community

because she is the only Asian lady in that area.

Which is predominantly a white community so she does stand out.

For all the best in the world, people will find out.

The police team is concerned about Shabana's welfare.

She is also the key witness and without her co-operation,

the case could collapse.

The less people know anything about her,

the better it is for her safety.

As soon as we fail to look after her properly, and she becomes

at risk, potentially, she may refuse to co-operate.

That would pose problems we do not need at this stage.

All the time she is safe, well, happy,

the better it is for others as investigators.

The first thing on the agenda when Dave and Richard

arrive at Shabana's temporary home is to check on how she is feeling.

-Just to clarify you're happy here.

-Yes.

We do not want you to live like prisoners,

but you must be mindful that your family is still trying to look for you.

Hopefully, those efforts will come to nothing.

-How are you getting on in this area?

-It is all right now.

At first, I said to you there were no Asian people.

We found a few Indians. About the halal meat, Suzanne has asked a few people

and she has find somebody for us.

The people are nice, kind.

-You're fitting in OK?

-Yes.

Reassured, Richard alerts Shabana to the real possibility that

members of her family may now face serious charges.

We have sent the blood and urine off that was taken off you at hospital to be forensically examined for any

potential toxins or substances that made you ill.

If we find something, we have been to the Crown Prosecution Service

already and asked them what are the possibilities of prosecution.

If we do find something,

they will entertain a prosecution against one or more family members.

You are still on board with that, I take it?

-Yeah?

-Yeah. I am getting nightmares though.

-Sorry?

I'm getting nightmares. Seriously.

Like, my mum has taken me somewhere or my brothers. Just stupid things.

I cannot sleep most of the time.

It just goes through my head. I don't know why.

You are going to have to work through that.

-You are safe and well here.

-Yeah.

-You are safe and well here.

-OK? Well, we're love you and leave you.

-All right.

A few weeks later, the toxicology report arrives.

Its findings will be crucial.

It could reveal what caused Shabana's condition

after she drank the hot, sweet milk.

We've got a statement back from a forensic scientist,

who's analysed the urine.

There's six pages.

It confirms that there are traces of Lorazepam, a powerful sedative.

This evidence is important,

because it supports what we believed from the very onset,

that she was given, administered a substance

to render her, erm, unfit...

..to, basically, subdue her,

for what purpose we still don't know.

But it confirms our suspicions from the onset.

Putting a sleeping tablet,

a prescription medication into somebody's drink,

yeah, it is a desperate act.

The toxicology report states that this drug is a prescription drug.

It's not something you can find, you know,

or put into a drink sort of by accident.

It's something that's been placed there.

We don't know what was going to happen to her.

If the officer hadn't gone then,

if they hadn't have been able to catch hold of the car,

we don't know where the vehicle was heading.

And that is what is worrying

for, certainly, the investigating officers

and why I feel that she had a very, very, very lucky escape.

It's time for Richard to update the Crown Prosecution Service

on latest developments.

The brothers then sort of got involved, and...

The lawyers have to assess the strength of the case.

And the villain of the piece is Shamrez Khan.

The bottom line is, from the family's point of view,

this is a question of honour,

and it's been made clear, you know,

that disrespecting the family is an honour-type situation, isn't it?

-I don't think there's any dispute about that.

-No.

It's about the family honour

and her doing things that are not consistent with where they see...

the family going, with whatever.

So we're fairly clear on that.

These are photographs of...

Richard briefs the lawyers

on how Shabana's brother had climbed through her kitchen window

while she was away

and how Shabana's belongings were taken.

At this point,

mum and brother start sort of collecting all...

Her personal belongings?

All her stuff, yeah, everything that's there that's belonging to her,

-and also, crucially, the passport and the marriage certificate.

-Oh, dear.

-OK?

-Which means control.

A lot of control, yeah.

-But we're not talking about a normal burglary here, are we?

-No.

What we're talking about,

this behaviour is just part of the same thing.

Yeah, to control her.

So whether or not we go for burglary at the end of the day,

if we're satisfied about the evidence,

is another matter, isn't it?

It's probably just all part of the same incident,

which is basically...

What we're saying is that it looks like

they're conspiring to kidnap her, aren't they, and imprison her?

That's what, basically, we're saying.

Whichever way you look at this, this case, it seems to be a runner.

It's something where we would be looking to build it.

-It's destined for the Crown Court. OK?

-Thank you.

-All right.

After further investigations,

the police bring all five members of the family back

for formal charging for kidnap, false imprisonment

and administering the drug Lorazepam.

You're charged with the offences shown below.

Even though Shabana has said she trusts her sister Saima,

she is still charged.

Do we call you Mohammed? Is that OK?

-Or...?

-Her father, Mohammed,

is still baffled by what is happening.

-Do you want to make any reply to the charges?

-Not guilty.

-Not guilty.

-Not guilty.

Her brother Shamrez Khan wants more detail of the charges.

Shamrez, this is a joint charge

with the other family members that appeared today. OK?

Do you want to make any...

..reply to the charges?

It says, "Namely, false imprisonment,"

ie you've kept somebody in an area against their will.

And that one's actually kidnap.

That's actually moving someone from one place to another.

-OK? So he's asking you if you've any reply to make.

-No comment, no.

OK. Thank you.

OK? You must attend court on that date.

If you don't, there will be a warrant issued for your arrest. All right?

Her mother, Shamim Akhtar, who helped collect

Shabana's belongings,

also faces charges.

And finally, Shabana's brother-in-law, Zahid Mahmood,

is called forward.

He stated that Shabana's brother told him he had given her sedatives.

You're charged with four offences, Zahid, OK?

And released on bail to appear at court.

In a later statement,

he said he couldn't be certain about what he said.

But now it's time for a jury to decide who and what to believe.

I don't think they were expecting

the seriousness of the charges.

Obviously, they were informed

prior to attending the police station this morning via their solicitors

that they were facing charges,

but we didn't tell them the nature of the offences

with which they were going to be charged.

Yeah, I think it took the wind out of their sails, really.

Anyone that's faced any one of them particular charges,

would be automatically going to Crown Court,

they're indictable-only offences.

Erm, quite serious offences,

each of them carries a life sentence - potentially.

Obviously, in this case, it would be up to a judge to decide the relevant sentences,

should they be found guilty.

And...the next port of call is court.

Right, I'll see you out. OK.

When the case comes to its full trial,

the five defendants arrive to face their peers on the jury.

For the police, just getting legal proceedings started is an achievement

in itself because of the pressures such accusations put on families.

Most people who're in her situation or similar situations,

don't want to attend court

and don't want to send their family to prison.

The thought of that and criminalising them

is a very difficult choice to make.

For the number of investigations we do in relation to forced marriages,

very few actually come to court

because before we get to that stage, before we do a prosecution with

the Crown Prosecution Service, many of the victims want to withdraw.

The court allows Shabana to give her evidence from behind a screen,

so she is hidden from her family's view.

Even so the whole thing is a tremendous ordeal.

This young lady has been waiting two years for the trial

and she's spent the last two years coming to terms with the fact

that the people closest to her could harm her and wanted to harm her.

So it's been a difficult time for her, trying to rebuild a life

but also knowing that at some point she'd have to give

evidence against her family.

She did say that she just got used to not hearing her family's voice.

Her sisters, her mum and dad, just general family life,

and now she has to see or hear them again

and hearing the voices in the corridor was very difficult for her,

it brought her other life back to her.

She was really upset about that.

All five family members plead not guilty to the charges of kidnap,

false imprisonment and administering a drug.

But Shabana's brother and brother-in-law change their pleas

to guilty during the proceedings.

After nearly three weeks, her mother is also found guilty

but Shabana's sister and her father are acquitted on all charges.

The police pass on the news of the convictions to Shabana.

When we spoke to her afterwards she said it was perhaps

one of the worst times of her life.

Ultimately what she wants to come out of it is, it shouldn't

have happened to me and I don't want it to happen to anybody else.

After being declared innocent, Shabana's sister gives her reaction through her barrister.

This is also a very tragic day as far as she's concerned

because not only has she been exonerated but members of her

family have now found themselves in custody facing very serious charges

and likely prison sentences.

The family are divided, hopefully in the future there will be

a possibility of some form of reconciliation between the sisters.

Shabana's father, too, reveals his feelings

and how the trial has split the family apart.

"I strongly condemn the acts of my family members for any

"wrongdoing and they should be punished for that.

"And also want to say I am against any sort of force

"used against your daughters to get them married against their will."

-Thank you very much.

-What do you think about your daughter?

-I've no comments.

-Would you say anything to your daughter?

Do you want to say anything to your daughter?

Well, I still miss her. I can't express my...

..Nor can I forget her but she forget me. I don't know why, how.

I miss her and I love her.

For Shabana, the end of the trial is not an end to the hurt.

But, even before the trauma of the trial itself, she recognised

it could be the beginning of a new life -

a life perhaps without her family.

I can't imagine my life without running away and back in that family,

living the life like I was, because I wasn't going nowhere.

And what's happened now has happened because they've made it happen.

She's sort of torn between the love for her family

and what has happened to her.

And that is part of the healing process she's going through.

I've got no feelings left, if you know what I mean.

Like, what's happened has happened and when I just let go,

forget I ever had a family -

if that's the way it has to be now.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd