Eight men and women have appeared in court accused of being involved in a people trafficking ring in Huddersfield.

All are charged with conspiracy to traffic persons into the UK for the purposes of exploitation.

The alleged offences took place between January 3, 2006 and April 2, 2012.

The group are alleged to have intended to exploit the people involved by subjecting them to force, threats or deception designed to induce them to provide their services in the fashion/tailoring and domestic service trade.

The eight accused appeared at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

The men and women, who entered no pleas to the charges, are: Raheela Bibi, 40, of Lockwood Road, Ahjaz Hussain, 33, of Victoria Road in Lockwood, Shahbaz Hussain, 38, of St Stephen’s Road in Lockwood, Muhammad Iqbal, 45, of Yews Mount in Lockwood, Shahnaz Iqbal, 52, of Kaffir Road in Edgerton, Mohammed Sarfraz, 34, of Victoria Road in Lockwood, Hajrah Sarfraz, 36, of Victoria Road in Lockwood, and Nisa Ulhaq, 38, of The Fairway in Fixby.

Ulhaq is further charged with facilitating the commission of a breach of UK immigration law by a non EU person.

The alleged offence relates to her representation of a woman at an immigration appeal against the refusal of her entry into the UK.

Magistrates committed the defendants’ case to Leeds Crown Court, where they will first appear on March 17.

In the meantime they are all on conditional bail.

The conditions are that they live and sleep at the given addresses and do not apply for any international travel documents.

All were also ordered to surrender their passports to Huddersfield Police Station and not contact a list of 14 persons or any of their dependants.

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