A BURY man joined forces with two other family members to confront a young woman after she refused an arranged marriage.

Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard how Quisam Ilyas, 38, turned up at a Salford safe house where the woman and her sister were staying after they had fled the family home following pressure on the woman in her early 20s to enter into an arranged marriage with her cousin.

Manchester Family Court had imposed a forced marriage protection order preventing his brother, Haroon Ilyas, 42, of Crumpsall, and his 76-year-old father, Mohammed Ilyas, of Cheetham Hill, from contacting the young woman, but after enlisting Quisam, of Grasmere Drive, Bury, the trio managed to gain access to the address after pretending they were delivering a takeaway.

At Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, Shirlie Duckworth, prosecuting, described how repeated attempts had been made to force the woman into the marriage with her cousin leading to a "bitter dispute" with her family.

"Her particularly objection was that the intended groom had been remanded in custody awaiting trial relating to allegations concerning the supply of drugs," said Ms Duckworth. "Threats were made against a backdrop of violence and controlling behaviour.

"Her refusal to marry her cousin led to a bitter dispute. The marriage was planned to take place in 2018 but was put on hold when he was arrested.

"When marriage was brought up again in November 2019, she said 'I refuse to marry a criminal like him'.

"Haroon Ilyas said it would be 'his way or no way'."

The situation led to the woman and her sister fleeing their family home and contacting the police who provided temporary accommodation, but Ilyas continued his threats.

On July 27 2020, a forced marriage protection order was granted naming Haroon and Mohammed Ilyas as the men pushing for the arrangement.

Ms Duckworth described how the order was ignored and on January 25 2021, the women heard a knock at the door of their safe house and the three men barged in.

The women were seized by their wrists and hands placed over their mouths to stop them screaming, but a number of witnesses saw the incident and contacted the police who arrived and arrested the three men.

In police interview they repeatedly lied about their intentions and accused the women of "screaming for no reason".

All three men later pleaded guilty to a number of charges relating to breaching the forced marriage protection order and the attack.

Haroon Ilyas also pleaded guilty to the separate child abuse charges after he had been the subject of another police investigation.

Charges brought around the attempted kidnap of the victim were dropped for all three defendants.

Defending Quisam Ilyas, who pleaded guilty to two counts of intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence, Mark Friend, said he had "no involvement in the background" to the case.

"His sole involvement relates to his attendance at the scene in January," he said. "He has been in custody since his arrest and has now served the equivalent of a 10 month sentence."

Presiding, Recorder Michael Duck QC, handed Quisam Ilyas a nine month prison sentence with Mohammed Ilyas also sentenced to nine months imprisonment after pleading guilty to two counts of breaching a forced marriage protection order.

Haroon Ilyas was sentenced to five years imprisonment after pleading guilty to using violence, threats, or coercion to cause another person to enter into a marriage without their free and full consent; two counts of breaching a forced marriage protection order; controlling and coercive behaviour; and two counts of cruelty to a person under the age-of-16.

Addressing Haroon, Recorder Duck, added: "The victim did not want to take part in that marriage because of that individual's background, she made that absolutely clear to you but you continued to ignore her wishes.

"You indicated that you would kill her if she didn't marry him, she believed that."