A HARROW pensioner whose “degrading” treatment turned a Tanzanian woman into a slave walked free from court today.

Saeeda Khan, 68, subjected Mwanahanisi Mruke to a “shocking” ordeal keeping her prisoner, depriving her of food and making her work 18 hours a day, even following an operation when she had doctors orders to rest.

But the Whitmore Road resident escaped with a nine month suspended sentence and was ordered to pay her victim £25,000.

Khan was supposed to pay Ms Mruke around £40 but could not even honour that agreement and not all the money was transferred.

Cara Pickering, reviewing lawyer for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “The financial arrangement was not honoured and she had to live in shocking conditions that failed basic human rights, not to mention domestic employment legislation.

“From the moment of her arrival in England Miss Mruke was made to sleep, work and live in conditions that by any understanding amount to slavery.

“Human exploitation such as this is not tolerated in our society and the CPS will use all of its powers to ensure these individuals are brought to justice.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Richard Martin, head of the Human Exploitation and Organised Crime Command, said: “Human trafficking is one of the biggest generators of criminal finance in the world.

“Forcing people to work as slaves is a deplorable part of this immoral trade and one that we will do everything we can to stop.

“This particular case highlights the lengths that traffickers will go to when trying to avoid prosecution.

“I would like to commend the victim who has shown incredible strength and courage by coming forward to the authorities to relay her terrifying and degrading ordeal.”