A WOMAN who was allegedly flown out to India to pose as a bride also took part in four sham marriages in the UK, a court heard.

And Jacqueline Grahams' home was attacked after she deliberately missed a flight to India. She was made to catch a later plane -- and was allegedly paid £500 by a Blackburn man for her troubles.

Preston Crown Court was told she was involved in several sham weddings to enable people either to obtain leave to stay in the UK, or permission to enter the country.

All involved strangers and they never lived together after the weddings which allegedly took place between July 1995 and July 1999, the court heard.

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.

Jacqueline Grahams, formerly of Blackburn, was persuaded to take part in a handful of sham wedding ceremonies, the court heard. The first was at Preston Register Office on August 2 1995. Henry Globe, QC prosecuting, said following the ceremony Patel is alleged to have said on the way home "That wasn't very hard was it?" The husband went on to receive indefinite leave to remain over here and later began divorce proceedings.

Another wedding was at Accrington Register Office in October 1998. Again she was collected beforehand, this time taken to an address in Roney Street, Blackburn, and told to change into appropriate clothing. The jury also heard how she was flown out to India for a bogus marriage in the autumn of 1997. Patel allegedly bought her tickets and went on ahead.

Mr Globe said "She deliberately missed the flight. She didn't want to go. That night four men came round to her house, smashed down her front door and smashed her windows. They took her to the other defendant's home.

"A telephone call was made and she spoke to Patel in India. He was extremely angry she had missed the flight and told her to take a later one. This time she was escorted to Manchester Airport and flew to India".

Upon arrival Miss Grahams was taken to a hotel where Patel gave her papers to memorise and clothes to wear, the court heard. She went through some form of ceremony at a house, though no priest was there and she was not required to sign any documents.

"He gave her £500 to cover the damage to her home and for her trouble in going to India and posing as a bride," Mr Globe added. The prosecution say that Patel also involved an unemployed Blackburn man called Mohammed Nassib. He was asked if he wanted a job and went on to be told it would involve helping bring an Indian woman over here, for which he would be paid £5,000.

Patel was living on London Road, Blackburn at the time of his arrest. The Crown allege that blank Islamic marriage certificates, blank passport application forms and blank sponsorship application forms were recovered from his home.

(Proceeding)