BLACKBURN WOMAN CLAUDIA MARQUES JAILED FOR SEX ACT IN FRONT OF CHILD AT MANCHESTER AIRPORT

In a disturbing case that has shocked the Blackburn community and beyond, Claudia Marques was sentenced to over two years in prison for her involvement in a series of heinous acts that took place in the presence of a young child. The incident, which occurred in January 2008, involved the woman engaging in explicit sexual acts while a minor was nearby, an act that was captured on a mobile phone and later used as evidence in her trial.

According to court proceedings, Marques was filmed on her mobile device stripping and performing a sexual act on a man, all while a young boy sat on a settee just a few feet away, seemingly witnessing the entire act. The footage was played in court, revealing Marques’s apparent awareness that the child could see what was happening. The court was told that the child was visibly distressed when police later found him, indicating the emotional trauma inflicted by the incident.

Following these events, Marques attempted to leave the country with the child. She was stopped at Manchester Airport while trying to board a flight to Portugal via Amsterdam. Authorities uncovered her plans, which appeared to be carefully orchestrated, as she had a taxi waiting outside her home with her luggage already packed. Pre-booked tickets further confirmed her intent to flee the country, and her attempt at abduction was deemed to be a deliberate and well-planned effort to evade justice.

Marques, aged 25 and formerly residing in Audley Range, Blackburn, appeared before Preston Crown Court to face multiple charges. She admitted to engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, child cruelty, and attempted child abduction. During the proceedings, it was revealed that she had used the alias Patricia Santos for most of her time in the UK and falsely claimed to be an Angolan asylum seeker. In reality, she is a Portuguese national.

Further complicating the case was her relationship with Yasser Ghalib, a 26-year-old man from Shearwood Road, Blackburn. Ghalib is currently wanted by police after failing to respond to charges of neglect and section 20 wounding of a child, leading to a warrant for his arrest.

The court also heard that police found the young boy in a distressed state during their investigation, highlighting the severity of the child cruelty involved. Marques was aware of her impending deportation order, which added to the gravity of her situation. Her defense lawyer, Andrew Alty, argued that Marques was impressionable and had been manipulated by Ghalib, claiming she was overwhelmed and under the influence of a malicious individual at the time.

Having spent over 300 days in custody on remand, Marques was informed that she would be placed on the sex offenders register for ten years. Judge Philip Sycamore emphasized the importance of protecting children, stating, “Children must be protected. Sentences of these courts, in punishing offenders, must make clear that those who abuse young children in any way can only expect to receive severe sentences.” The court’s verdict sends a clear message about the seriousness with which such crimes are regarded, underscoring the need for strict punishment to deter future offenses.