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A man and his parents have been jailed after forcing his wife to take medication and covering her in a corrosive substance, leaving her in a vegetative state following their arranged marriage.

Ambreen Fatima Sheikh, then 30, was given the anti-diabetes drug glimepiride, which can be fatal to non-diabetes patients, and likely doused in cleaning product before she was admitted to hospital on 1 August 2015, Leeds Crown Court heard.

She had come to live in the UK with her new husband Asgar Sheikh, 31, following an arranged marriage in Pakistan.

Although none of the family gave evidence in court, Asgar Sheikh’s mother and father, Khalid, 55, and Shabnam Sheikh, 52, are believed to have been behind the catastrophic brain injury she suffered.

Ms Sheikh, now 39, has been under palliative care ever since. Doctors expected she would die when her ventilator was turned off, but she began to breathe for herself.

According to the prosecution, she is totally unaware of her surroundings, has no motor or pain responses, and will likely die from her injuries in the decades to come.

The three relatives were found guilty of allowing a vulnerable adult to suffer physical harm and perverting the course of justice after a trial last year.

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On Wednesday they were sentenced to seven years and nine months in prison.

Handing down their punishment, judge Mrs Justice Lambert said: “It is difficult to imagine a more serious injury, short of death.”

Unhappy with wife’s housework

The trial heard that Ms Sheikh arrived at the family home in Clara Street, Huddersfield, in 2014.

She rarely left the house and never went out alone, speaking little English and having no friends or family in the UK, the judge said.

The court heard that soon after she arrived, the family were unhappy with her housework and her father-in-law suggested she be sent back to Pakistan.

Concerns were raised about her wellbeing in July 2015, but a police welfare check concluded she was fit and well.

However, the judge said this bore “little weight” due to her lack of English and her father-in-law being present.

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The judge could not be sure who administered the drugs or the substance. But she concluded there was a two or three-day delay in the family calling an ambulance after Ms Sheikh fell unconscious.

During this time the judge said she became severely dehydrated and inhaled fluids that may have caused her brain injury. She was also left with severe burns from the liquid on her back, bottom, and right ear.

Family lied to 999 call handlers and paramedics

The judge said that even when they called 999, the family lied about what had happened to her.

According to witness statements, Ms Sheikh was in good health before the incident and is believed to have worked as a teacher in Pakistan.

Her mother is still there, but in poor health, and her father has since died. She has seven siblings, including a brother who has visited her in the palliative care home.

Her husband’s sister Shafuga Sheikh, 29, was also found guilty of allowing a vulnerable adult to suffer physical harm and perverting the course of justice, but was given an 18-month suspended sentence.

Her husband’s brother Sakalayne Sheikh, 25, was given a six-month sentence, suspended for two years for perverting the course of justice.

West Yorkshire Police’s DCI Matthew Holdsworth said after the sentencing: “This has been an awful case in which a young, healthy woman has been catastrophically injured and robbed of her future by the very people she should have expected to protect her.

“While Ambreen still technically lives, it is tragically believed she may never regain consciousness.”

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Starmer urges anyone with information on Epstein case to come forward – after Andrew misses Congress deadline

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Starmer urges anyone with information on Epstein case to come forward - after Andrew misses Congress deadline

Sir Keir Starmer has urged anyone with information on the Jeffrey Epstein case to come forward after Andrew Mountbatten Windsor missed the deadline to appear in front of US Congress.

US legislators have criticised Andrew for what they describe as “silence” amid their probe into Epstein after he failed to respond to their request for an interview.

When asked about Andrew missing the deadline and whether the former prince should help the case in any way he can, Sir Keir said on his way to the G20 summit in South Africa: “I don’t comment on this particular case.”

He added that “a general principle I’ve held for a very long time is that anybody who has got relevant information in relation to these kind of cases should give that evidence to those that need it”.

Andrew is not legally obliged to talk to Congress and has always vigorously denied any wrongdoing.

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Sir Keir Starmer spoke to reporters on his way to the G20 in South Africa. Pic: Reuters
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Sir Keir Starmer spoke to reporters on his way to the G20 in South Africa. Pic: Reuters

It comes as Marjorie Taylor Greene, a loyal supporter-turned-critic of US President Donald Trump, said on Friday she is resigning from Congress in January.

Ms Greene’s resignation followed a public falling-out with Mr Trump in recent months, as the congresswoman criticised him for his stance on files related to Epstein, as well as on foreign policy and healthcare.

Members of the House Oversight Committee had requested a “transcribed interview” with Andrew in connection with his “long-standing friendship” with Epstein, the paedophile financier who took his own life in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges.

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Releasing the Epstein files: How we got here

But after saying they had not heard back, Democrats Robert Garcia and Suhas Subramanyam accused Andrew of hiding.

Their statement read: “Andrew Mountbatten Windsor’s silence in the face of the Oversight Democrat’s demand for testimony speaks volumes.

“The documents we’ve reviewed, along with public records and Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s testimony, raise serious questions he must answer, yet he continues to hide.

“Our work will move forward with or without him, and we will hold anyone who was involved in these crimes accountable, no matter their wealth, status, or political party. We will get justice for the survivors.”

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The new Epstein files: The key takeaways

It follows Andrew being stripped of his prince and Duke of York titles earlier this month.

He had previously agreed to stop using his titles, but had expected to remain a prince and retain his dukedom, ahead of the publication of the memoirs of the late Ms Giuffre, who had accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager – an accusation he denies.

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Girl, 13, arrested on suspicion of murdering woman in Swindon

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Girl, 13, arrested on suspicion of murdering woman in Swindon

A 13-year-old girl has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a woman in Swindon.

Police said the teenager was detained following an incident in Baydon Close, Moredon, in the Wiltshire town on Friday evening.

Officers responded to reports of disorder inside a house. When they arrived, a woman in her 50s living at the address was found to be not breathing. She was declared dead at the scene.

There were no other reported injuries.

Forensic officers are at the scene to collect evidence
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Forensic officers are at the scene to collect evidence

Detective Inspector Darren Ambrose, from Wiltshire Police’s major crime investigation team, said: “This is a serious incident in which a woman has sadly died.

“We have set up a cordon at the address while an investigation is carried out.

“I can confirm that we have arrested a teenage girl in connection with this incident and we are not looking for anyone else.”

Police have asked people not to speculate about the incident online as this could prejudice the case.

A police statement read: “Residents can expect to see an increased police presence in the area while we continue carrying out our enquiries into the woman’s death.

“The suspect remains in custody at this time.”

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Police said anyone with concerns should speak with their local neighbourhood policing team, either by emailing or approaching officers in person.

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Rail fares to be frozen for first time in 30 years

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Rail fares to be frozen for first time in 30 years

Rail fares are to be frozen for the first time in 30 years, the government has announced.

Ministers promised that millions of rail travellers will save hundreds of pounds on regulated fares, including season tickets and peak and off-peak returns between major cities.

The fare freeze applies to England and services run by English train operators.

People commuting to work three days a week using flexi-season tickets will save £315 a year travelling from Milton Keynes to London, £173 travelling from Woking to London and £57 from Bradford to Leeds, the government said.

The changes are part of Labour’s plans to rebuild a publicly owned Great British Railways. Other planned changes include tap in-tap out and digital ticketing, as well as investing in superfast Wi-Fi.

The freeze applies to regulated fares, including season tickets and peak and off-peak returns. Pic: iStock
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The freeze applies to regulated fares, including season tickets and peak and off-peak returns. Pic: iStock

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the government was introducing a freeze on rail fares for the first time in 30 years, which “will ease the pressure on household finances and make travelling to work, school or to visit friends and family that bit easier”.

“We all want to see cheaper rail travel, so we’re freezing fares to help millions of passengers save money,” Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said.

“Commuters on more expensive routes will save more than £300 per year, meaning they keep more of their hard-earned cash.”

Rail unions and passenger groups welcomed the move, praising how it will make travel more affordable for passengers and promote more sustainable travel alternatives.

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Eddie Dempsey, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, said: “More affordable fares will encourage greater use of public transport, supporting jobs, giving a shot in the arm to local economies and helping to improve the environment.”

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said the rail fare freeze “will be a huge relief to working people”.

“This is the right decision, at the right time, to help passengers be able to afford to make that journey they need to take, and to help grow our railway in this country, because the railway is Britain’s green alternative – taking cars and lorries off our congested roads and moving people and goods safely around our country in an environmentally-friendly way,” Mick Whelan, general secretary of the train drivers union Aslef, said.

The Tories welcomed the move but said the government was “late to the platform”.

Shadow transport secretary Richard Holden said: “In government, the Conservatives kept fares on the right track with below-inflation rises and consistently called for no further hikes to protect hard-working commuters.”

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