THE FATHER and uncle of a fugitive rape conspirator, who they helped to flee the country during his trial, have both been jailed for four years.

Wakar Akhtar, 21, failed to attend court after giving evidence at his Bradford Crown Court trial last November. He was convicted in his absence and sentenced to 17 years imprisonment, along with his three co-conspirators.

Bradford Crown Court heard today that Akhtar's father, Mohammed Akhtar Raja, 53, and his uncle, Raja Sarwar, 40, took him to Dover, where he caught the midnight ferry to Calais, after he had given his evidence.

Raja, of Hudson Avenue, Canterbury, Bradford, and Sarwar, of Tern Street, Canterbury, were arrested after returning to Dover.

Prosecutor Andrew Kershaw told the court a Europe-wide manhunt took place and Akhtar, of Hudson Avenue, was arrested in the city of Brescia in northern Italy.

He said extradition proceedings were under way and a hearing was due to take place in Milan next Wednesday. Akhtar had indicated he would challenge his extradition.

Akhtar; his uncle Azad Raja, 38, of Hudson Avenue; private hire driver Tamseel Virk, 42, of Marten Road, Canterbury; and Najeem Ul-Saeed, 31, of Beaumont Road, Girlington, Bradford, were all convicted of conspiracy to rape.

The victim, a vulnerable woman teacher, was abducted by Virk in his car and driven to a Bradford park in the dark of night where she was repeatedly raped.

Mr Kershaw said Raja and Sarwar, who had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, had subverted the administration of justice and put at risk a major trial for a serious offence.

He said the cost to West Yorkshire Police and police at Dover of pursuing the fugitive was nearly £31,000, without the cost to the National Crime Agency, Interpol, and authorities in France, Spain and Italy.

Mr Kershaw said an offender was not serving a sentence imposed by the court and there was no guarantee of his return, and the distress of the complainant had been compounded.

Documents provided by Detective Constable Sean Donoghue showed that the search for a ferry had been made on Sarwar's account and paid for by Raja with his credit card.

Glenn Parsons, representing Raja, said it was an impulsive act from an otherwise law-abiding citizen while under severe pressure by his son.

Katherine Pierpoint, for Sarwar, said he got involved through a misplaced sense of loyalty.

Sentencing, Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC, said it was a team effort, helping somebody on trial for the most serious of offences, "deliberately and cynically to indefinitely evade justice."

Judge Durham Hall said the case was quite exceptional and it was "utterly remarkable" what they had done in view of the serious charges.

After the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Steve Snow, who led the investigation, said: "Raja and Sarwar were fully aware of Akhtar's situation and the serious offences he was charged with. Without any regard for the victim or the judicial process, they only had one intention - to help him escape justice.

"They had clearly planned his escape and were responsible for booking the ferry tickets to France. Having done so, Akhtar was collected late in the evening where the three men travelled to Dover and boarded a ferry to Calais, where they hoped Akhtar would become a free man.

"Their misguided loyalty has been rewarded with prison sentences, which demonstrate that those who pervert the course of justice - particularly in such a serious case as this - will be dealt with by the police and the courts."