A mother-of-two who booked a cottage as a hiding place for an on-the-run killer has been jailed for nine months.

Graduate Sonia Ashraf, who had wanted to be a teacher, also hired a Mercedes to drive Harras Khan to Airbnb accommodation in Cheshire after the shotgun murder of Taimoor Zaheer in Handsworth, Birmingham.

Ashraf, of Monica Road, Small Heath, Birmingham, was convicted in August at the city's Crown Court of assisting an offender by arranging accommodation and transportation.

Sentencing Ashraf on Friday, Judge Paul Farrer QC told the 27-year-old: "On the afternoon of the 22nd of May 2018, Harras Khan, together with his brother Anib, murdered Taimoor Zaheer by shooting him in the head.

"Both before and immediately after that shooting, Harras Khan was in extensive phone contact with you in circumstances where you were undoubtedly in a relationship with him."

After lying to police during a phone call in June last year, claiming her boyfriend may be in Pakistan, Ashraf went on to book a property in Nantwich and drive him there in a hire car, before spending several days with him.

Conceding that Ashraf was articulate and well-qualified, Judge Farrer said: "I accept that you have many positive personal qualities. You undoubtedly acted out of character, and through a sense of misguided loyalty."

But the judge added: "The offender you assisted had committed the offence of murder.

"I have no doubt that you were aware that he was guilty of either murder or a minimum of manslaughter.

"Your intention was to assist Harras Khan in evading the police and you were therefore intending to frustrate the police in relation to an offence of the utmost gravity."

Anib Khan, who opened fire after being handed a shotgun by his brother near their home in Handsworth, was jailed for life last year with a minimum of 32 years. Harras Khan was also handed a life term to serve at least 29 years.

By Matthew Cooper