High Wycombe man who enslaved and sexually abused women jailed
A man who subjected two women to sexual abuse and enslaved one of them has been jailed for nearly three decades.Muhammad Arshad was sentenced to 27 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of modern slavery and sexual assault offences.The 47-year-old, of Chairborough Road, High Wycombe, was sentenced at Aylesbury Crown Court on Friday following an eight-day trial last year.Det Con Emily Sendall, from Thames Valley Police, said Arshad had committed "truly horrendous" crimes.
During trial it was found that Arshad had subjected two women to a campaign of sexual abuse between January 2018 and July 2024.Between 2019 and 2024, he held one of the women in servitude, raping and assaulting her."Muhammad Arshad was a well-respected man in the community until this offending was uncovered," Det Con Sendall said.Arshad was found guilty of one count of modern slavery, seven counts of rape, two counts of assault, one count of common assault, three counts of sexual assault and one count of threatening to disclose a private sexual image. Some of the rape counts included multiple offences of rape.He was acquitted of two counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault and one count of assault.
'Incredible bravery'
"During our investigation, we were able to evidence the years of abuse," added Det Con Sendall.She praised the victims for having the courage to come forward."I would like to thank the victims for their incredible bravery and providing evidence," she said."If you are a victim of a sexual offence or have information about sexual offences, please contact the force."We have specially trained officers who will listen and support you."
Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Belfast Telegraph
22 minutes ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Reviews opened into Tina Satchwell and Michael Gaine investigations
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said that 'in hindsight' it may have been 'very obvious' where Mrs Satchwell's remains were secretly buried. Mr Harris said a report would be compiled and given to the Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan on Mrs Satchwell's disappearance, while the case of Mr Gaine is undergoing a peer review. Earlier this week, Richard Satchwell was given a life sentence for the murder of his wife Tina at their home in Co Cork. The British truck driver, 58, had denied murdering his wife between March 19 and March 20 2017. The jury at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin reached the unanimous verdict last Friday after nine hours and 28 minutes of deliberations. Mrs Satchwell's skeletal remain were found in a clandestine grave under the stairs of the couple's home in Co Cork in October 2023, more than six years after her husband reported her missing. The house was subject to a search in 2017, however nothing was discovered. In a separate case, the remains of Mr Gaine, a farmer from Co Kerry, were discovered in a slurry tank on his farmland in May, two months after he was reported missing by his wife. The farmyard had been previously searched as part of the probe. Speaking about the investigation into the disappearance of Mrs Satchwell, Mr Harris said the 2017 search did 'harvest' a 'huge information', which was useful in the re-examination of the case. Speaking at the Garda College in Templemore, Co Tipperary, Mr Harris said: 'All of those were crucial. So I would say the initial investigation was hamstrung because of the lack of information in comparison to the later re-examination of this matter. 'There's far more information to hand which gave us real grounds then for actual suspicion and then inquiries that we could lead. 'When you look at hindsight, some of these things can seem very obvious, but in the moment, what was known, what was being said in terms of sighting, what was being said in terms of the victim by her husband, and one has to recognise the victimology that was being applied here. 'His suppression of her, the coercive control that obviously she was subject to for many years, her isolation in that particular community, that meant that there was very few other people that we could speak to her… what Tina Satchwell's life was like. 'It was a complex investigation. Yes, the house was searched in 2017, forensic scientists also accompanied that search, it was subject to thorough examination and looked for blood splatter, none was found.' He said the initial investigation will be subject to a review. 'We have the expertise within the organisation, and obviously, then we report to the minister and to the Policing and Community Safety Authority, as is our responsibility. 'But I do think there are definitely lessons that we wish to learn from all of these homicides, where it's missing persons and then converts some time later to a homicide investigation.' He added: 'What I can say is, we've already reviewed all our missing person reports nationally. That was done last year. We found no other suspected homicide cases. 'Then following the Michael Gaine investigation, we're subjecting that to peer review, as I do think there's learning for us around those who would commit crime and then attempt to dispose of the body, and often are successful in disposing of the body.'
Telegraph
25 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Labour spends £35k on pub beer mats to boast about minimum wage rise
Labour spent more than £35,000 of taxpayer cash on beer mats in pubs advertising the increase to the national minimum wage, a minister has admitted. The Government sent out promotional material to pubs across the country to tell workers that the minimum wage and national living wage were going up. Justin Madders, the employment minister, rationalised the £35,580 expense as he said the beer mats offered a 'unique opportunity to engage audiences in a social, high-dwell environment where financial conversations naturally occur'. The red and pale blue beer mats were government-branded and said: 'Millions got a pay rise.' 'National minimum and living wages went up on 1st April', it added, and displayed a barcode for customers to scan for details on how to 'make sure you're getting paid correctly'. The employment minister responded to a written question by Richard Holden, the shadow paymaster general, about the cost of the drink mats. He said: 'The cost to advertise in pubs using beer mats was £35,580, which was approved at official level.' He confirmed that the advertising push was approved by the Cabinet Office, and came out of the 2025 National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage campaign budget of £650,000. He added: 'The 2024 campaign saw an increase in reach to eligible workers. However, recognition remained low, reinforcing the need for bolder, more engaging formats for the 2025 campaign, which expected to deliver an estimated 3.2 million impressions. 'It offered a unique opportunity to engage audiences in a social, high-dwell environment where financial conversations naturally occur. 'This setting encourages discussion and word-of-mouth sharing about rate changes and offers an effective nudge for audiences to 'check their pay'.' 'We will be ruthless' Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves have both pledged a war on waste in Whitehall, with the Government having taken such moves as freezing government credit cards and abolishing NHS England. The Prime Minister said in October: 'We will also be ruthless in clamping down on government waste, just as we will be ruthless on clamping down on tax avoidance ', emphasising the intention to show so the British people that 'every penny counts'. He added: 'Every single person in this country had to do that during the cost-of-living crisis and government must be no different.' The national living wage for those aged 21 and over rose from £11.44 per hour to £12.21 per hour, an increase of 6.7 per cent. The national minimum wage for those between 18 and 20 went up from £8.60 to £10 per hour, a 16.3 per cent boost. The Government has also begun to name and shame firms that do not pay their workers the appropriate wages, demanding they pay back what they owe and in some instances a further financial penalty.
BBC News
28 minutes ago
- BBC News
Caerphilly World War Two veteran turns 100 on D-Day anniversary
An RAF veteran has said he would not change a thing about his life as he celebrated his 100th birthday on the anniversary of 'Ted' Carter from Caerphilly turned 19 on D-Day, 81 years ago on 6 June was deployed in India at the time, a memory he described as "wonderful".Reflecting on becoming a centenarian, Mr Carter said he had had "a very, very happy life". "I think we should all live a peaceful, happy life, helping people as much as we can, give back as much as we can," he said. After leaving school at 16, Mr Carter joined the railway and said his father told him "you won't make much money"."I didn't want to work anywhere else," he initially worked in the signal boxes, then "on the trains",When he was called up to serve in the war effort, he did not want to join the Army."And I couldn't swim, so I thought the air force was best for me," he four-and-a-half years, he served in the Royal Air Force as an engineer, working on Wellington and Lancaster bombers."You had to learn in six months what in peace time would take you three years."Reflecting on the conflict, Mr Carter said: "I think, I hope, the world has got a better place."All we want is a quiet, peaceful life." When he left the RAF, he joined what is now Great Western to Wales in 1946, home became the cottage he shared with his late wife met as teenagers, and married aged 22 and 23."I'm so glad I met Margaret when she was 15," he said."We had 61 years of a lovely life together."With savings of £380, they spent £320 on their cottage in Bedwas and £11 on solicitors fees and went on to raise three children there – Paul, Sharon and fact, the letter he recently received from the King, marking his big birthday, was actually his second correspondence from a monarch, having also had one for his 60th wedding anniversary from Elizabeth II. "[Our dad] taught us to be hard working, kind," said added: "He's been an exceptional human being. He's terrific."At 98, Mr Carter was still regularly seen tending to his beloved garden at the cottage, particularly its orchard with pear, apple and plum trees."We grew everything," he now lives at Castle View care home in Caerphilly, where staff and residents threw him a birthday party."All my life I've had very good luck and health. What can you ask for more than that?"If I had to do it all over again I wouldn't change it."
