A BLACKBURN woman at the centre of an alleged bogus marriages fraud has told a jury how she married a stranger when she was just 18.

Jacqueline Grahams told a jury she had been involved in six marriages to different people, using different names, including three in the space of a few months.

She said she had been arrested and pleaded guilty to charges in relation to the matters.

Two people are on trial at Preston Crown Court, accused of being concerned with arrangements to obtain leave for someone to remain in this country, or entry into the UK. Ibrahim Patel, 50, of Dartford Close, Blackburn, denies twelve charges. His co-defendant, Amita Rana, 33, of Roney Street, Blackburn denies nine charges.

Miss Grahams told the jury how she married a stranger at Preston Register Office at the age of 18 in August 1995.

She recalled having an unexpected visit from the defendant Patel, while living in Blackburn, and later being taken to an address in Surrey Street, Preston.

She stated: "Ibrahim told me to come with him. I said 'what for?' He didn't say. He started shouting 'do as you are told.' I felt frightened. I was scared of him."

The woman, now aged 25, and who lives in the Preston area after moving from Blackburn, said she had first met Patel at Blackburn College.

She claimed that before going to the wedding, she was told to get changed at the Surrey Street home and also to memorise a paper bearing names. She also alleged that Patel told her to keep her mouth shut and that the groom was a friend of his.

"I didn't want to do it," she added. Following the ceremony she claims she was driven home by the two defendants.

She said she was not paid for what she did and did not see the husband again after that.

Miss Grahams said she was married again in October 1995 at Blackburn Register Office and then again the following month under the Hyndburn and Rossendale Registry.

(Proceeding)