GREATER Manchester police and crime commissioner Tony Lloyd has called for people to take a stand against modern slavery.

His comments follow three people being convicted for their roles in trafficking a 10-year-old girl from Pakistan.

The girl, who is deaf and unable to speak, was kept as a slave in a Salford home for more than 10 years where she was repeatedly raped. She lived in a dark cellar but is now recovering from her ordeal.

Ilyas Ashar, aged 84, of Cromwell Road, Eccles, was found guilty of raping the girl at Manchester Crown Court last week.

Mr Lloyd said: “We can’t begin to imagine the horrors that this young woman had to endure over a period of years.

“I hope she can find some comfort that justice has been done.”

Last Friday marked Anti-Slavery Day — there are thought to be up to 4,000 slaves in Britain.

Mr Lloyd added:“It is shocking to think that in 21st century Britain there are people who are trafficked into this country to act as nothing more than slaves.

“All right-thinking people will be appalled and we must all make a stand together against this barbaric practice.”

He is backing plans by Home Secretary Theresa May to introduce a Modern Slavery Bill to Parliament which will make it easier to prosecute the slave drivers and do more to protect victims.

Ashar had earlier been found guilty of two counts of trafficking people for exploitation and three offences under the Social Security Act at an earlier trial.

His wife Tallat Ashar, aged 68, of Cromwell Street, Eccles, was convicted at an earlier trial of two counts of trafficking people for exploitation and seven offences under the Social Security Act.

Faazia Ashar, of Milton Road, Eccles, aged 45, was found guilty of three offences under the Social Security Act.