A FATHER obsessed by his daughter's refusal of an arranged marriage was today awaiting sentence for plotting the contract killing of the man she secretly married.

A jury at Preston Crown court heard how the hired hitman -- an undercover policeman -- was recruited in a Blackburn car park and paid £4,000 after pretending the job had been done.

Mohammed Yaqub, 50, of Halifax, and two other men, Nazar Hussain, 45, and Imran Khalil, 27, also of Halifax, were convicted of conspiracy to murder.

Mahboob Hussain, 46, of Snow Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty and the men were due to be sentenced today.

Two others, Mohammed Tufail, 47, of Mayfield Avenue, and Mohammed Hanif, 35, of Richmond Road, both Halifax, were acquitted.

The case concerned Yaqub's 22-year-old daughter Shabina, who in October 1997 formed a relationship with Zubair Qayum.

The relationship was despised by her father who wanted her to have an arranged marriage.

But she refused to do that and the couple went on to marry in secret.

Tony Cross, prosecuting, alleged that Mohammed Yaqub was a father of very strong Islamic tradition who ruled his home with a rod of iron.

It appeared Yaqub learned of the marriage in early September 2000. Mr Cross said: "He tried various ways to split the pair. Meetings were arranged within the community where he would appeal to those present, emphasising his belief in community, but always making it plain he would by whatever means end the marriage. Meeting with no success in the community, he decided more drastic action was called for. Over the following months Zubair was effectively stalked by Yaqub. So frightened was he and his family that police fitted an alarm at their home."

In January last year Yaqub was arrested for harassment. "It was probably around this time that he decided to rid himself of Mr Qayum," added the prosecution.

It was alleged that he then enlisted the help of relatives and sympathisers.

But meetings with the "hitman" at the Whitebirk retail estate were secretly taped and recorded. Yaqub denied the allegations, and told the jury that after meeting with the bridegroom's relatives, he had agreed that a "proper" marriage ceremony should take place.