A "CRUEL and heartless" father who admitted snatching his two
children and taking them to Pakistan has been jailed for five years.
Derby Crown Court heard how Mohammed Tariq told his children that their mother, Tracey Martin, was dead after he took them abroad 11 years ago.
Tariq then took Gary, who was nine at the time, and Lisa, who was seven, from their family home in Dryden Street, Sunny Hill.
Steven Coupland, prosecuting, said, while the children were abroad, Lisa, now 18, had limited schooling, was subjected to physical abuse by others and contemplated suicide. He said Gary, now 21, got into trouble with police.
Mrs Martin spent the next decade fighting to get back her children. The 42-year-old told the Derby Telegraph how she hired solicitors and a private investigator.
Her efforts and those of the British authorities were unsuccessful. In 2010, Derbyshire police received an anonymous tip-off Tariq was back in the city but officers were unable to find him.
But, in October last year, Detective Constable Steve Fuller reviewed the case and found that Tariq was living in a rented property in Abbotts Barn Close, Derby. Tariq was arrested on December 1.
Judge Hilary Watson said his behaviour was "cruel and heartless". She said: "You deprived your children of an opportunity to have a relationship with their mother throughout their childhood."
And, of telling the children their mother had died, she added: "I cannot think of a more terrible and more shocking thing to say to two children."
She also imposed a 10-year restraining order on Tariq, which prevents him contacting Mrs Martin or Lisa.
It was not until August last year that Mrs Martin was reunited with daughter Lisa, who now lives with her at her Derbyshire home. Gary stayed in Pakistan. Mrs Martin has not seen him, although she is in touch.
After the sentencing, Mrs Martin said: "I had said any amount of sentence wouldn't be enough after what he's done but I am pleased with what he's been given. At least Lisa will be able to get on with her life without looking over her shoulder. The judge has been good giving him what he deserves."
Stuart Lody, in mitigation, said there were "two sides to matrimonial breakdowns", citing cultural differences and Tariq joining the Territorial Army among the reasons. He said, after Tariq suffered a back injury when he was partially crushed by a forklift, he was in "considerable chronic pain" and his doctor said a warmer climate would assist him.
Mr Lody said Tariq's intention had only been to go to Pakistan for six months and that he had purchased return flight tickets but he put the children into school and they settled. A letter was sent from Gary to his cousins in England describing his life as "brilliant". Mr Lody said: "Gary decided to stay in Pakistan, so life couldn't have been so awful."
He said Tariq and the children lived in an isolated area, making communications "difficult in the extreme".
He also said Tariq did not realise he was committing an offence.
But Judge Watson said numerous court orders were made in relation to the children and returning them to the UK, of which Tariq would have been aware. She added: "It is very difficult to weigh up what you say was in the children's best interest and the reality of what happened to the children."
After the sentencing, Det Con Fuller said: "I am extremely satisfied with the sentence, which I feel reflects the seriousness of this case and the pain Tracey and her children have suffered.
"Tracey's family can feel reassured by the sentence and by the extended protection that the 10-year restraining order provides."
Derby Crown Court heard how Mohammed Tariq told his children that their mother, Tracey Martin, was dead after he took them abroad 11 years ago.
Steven Coupland, prosecuting, said, while the children were abroad, Lisa, now 18, had limited schooling, was subjected to physical abuse by others and contemplated suicide. He said Gary, now 21, got into trouble with police.
Mrs Martin spent the next decade fighting to get back her children. The 42-year-old told the Derby Telegraph how she hired solicitors and a private investigator.
Her efforts and those of the British authorities were unsuccessful. In 2010, Derbyshire police received an anonymous tip-off Tariq was back in the city but officers were unable to find him.
But, in October last year, Detective Constable Steve Fuller reviewed the case and found that Tariq was living in a rented property in Abbotts Barn Close, Derby. Tariq was arrested on December 1.
Judge Hilary Watson said his behaviour was "cruel and heartless". She said: "You deprived your children of an opportunity to have a relationship with their mother throughout their childhood."
And, of telling the children their mother had died, she added: "I cannot think of a more terrible and more shocking thing to say to two children."
She also imposed a 10-year restraining order on Tariq, which prevents him contacting Mrs Martin or Lisa.
It was not until August last year that Mrs Martin was reunited with daughter Lisa, who now lives with her at her Derbyshire home. Gary stayed in Pakistan. Mrs Martin has not seen him, although she is in touch.
After the sentencing, Mrs Martin said: "I had said any amount of sentence wouldn't be enough after what he's done but I am pleased with what he's been given. At least Lisa will be able to get on with her life without looking over her shoulder. The judge has been good giving him what he deserves."
Stuart Lody, in mitigation, said there were "two sides to matrimonial breakdowns", citing cultural differences and Tariq joining the Territorial Army among the reasons. He said, after Tariq suffered a back injury when he was partially crushed by a forklift, he was in "considerable chronic pain" and his doctor said a warmer climate would assist him.
Mr Lody said Tariq's intention had only been to go to Pakistan for six months and that he had purchased return flight tickets but he put the children into school and they settled. A letter was sent from Gary to his cousins in England describing his life as "brilliant". Mr Lody said: "Gary decided to stay in Pakistan, so life couldn't have been so awful."
He said Tariq and the children lived in an isolated area, making communications "difficult in the extreme".
He also said Tariq did not realise he was committing an offence.
But Judge Watson said numerous court orders were made in relation to the children and returning them to the UK, of which Tariq would have been aware. She added: "It is very difficult to weigh up what you say was in the children's best interest and the reality of what happened to the children."
After the sentencing, Det Con Fuller said: "I am extremely satisfied with the sentence, which I feel reflects the seriousness of this case and the pain Tracey and her children have suffered.
"Tracey's family can feel reassured by the sentence and by the extended protection that the 10-year restraining order provides."
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