Girl, 10, allegedly kept prisoner by couple in Eccles

A court in Manchester has heard how a 10-year-old girl who was allegedly trafficked into the country was held as a prisoner in the cellar of a couple for almost 10 years [10 February 2012].

The orphaned girl, who it is believed was trafficked from Pakistan, was reportedly kept for almost 10 years by the couple, who are aged 83 and 66. Whilst being held she was heard to have been sexually assaulted and made to work with no pay.

The couple, who the court heard locked the girl in a cellar each night, deny charges of human trafficking, violence, sexual offences, false imprisonment and benefit fraud.

During the trial at Minshull Street Crown Court, it was alleged the girl, now aged around 20, was forced to sleep on a concrete floor in the cellar.

She is believed to have spent 10 years at the couple's home in Eccles, Greater Manchester.

'Extremely vulnerable'

The prosecution told the jury that the girl was "extremely vulnerable" and forced to do household chores for the couple as well as clean the houses and cars of their friends and family.

The prosecution said: "The Crown's case is she was physically abused. She was sexually abused, which included being raped.

"She was exploited economically in that benefits, state benefits in this country, were obtained in her name.

"At night the door at the top of the stairs down to the cellar was locked and bolted so she could not get out during the night.

"There were no washing or toilet facilities in the cellar so that if she needed to use the bathroom during the night she had to bang on the cellar door in the hope that she was heard and the door opened."

The trial continues.

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