Razi Khalid was one of three men involved in the alleged honour attack in Blackburn

Three Asian men who carried out an 'honour attack' on the boyfriend of one of their sisters have all avoided prison terms.

Kasim Ali, 25, and his cousins Adeel Ali, 20, and Razi Khalid, 18, targeted Aquib Baig because their family did not approve of him seeing their sister, a court was told.

They rammed his car before chasing him into a corner store in Blackburn, Lancashire, where they kicked and beat him in front of horrified shoppers.

Despite a judge condemning the violence, the trio were this week spared jail for their attack on Mr Baig, which took place on April 13.

Sentencing them at Preston Crown Court Sessions House, Recorder Julian Shaw told them: 'There is no place for any religious or honour based violence.

'It's abhorrent, it's against your religion, it's unlawful. I have had to see the violence perpetrated.

'Mercifully, perhaps more by luck than judgement, the victim didn't sustain more serious injuries.

'He was attacked by all three of you together at the same time despite attempts by member of the public to break it up and despite the perception that he offered no violence towards you at all.'

Prosecutor Sarah Gruffydd told the court how Mr Baig was in a relationship with Kasim Ali's sister, causing upset among the extended family.

Miss Gruffydd said: 'It was a relationship which was disapproved of by Ali and the rest of his family. This is an honour-based violence case.'

She told the court the three attackers drove their car into Mr Baig's before chasing him into a shop and attacking him.

The court heard that the beating only came to an end after members of the public got in between the defendants.

The victim was taken to hospital where he was found to have bruising to his forehead and left eye, grazes to his cheek and swelling to his head. He also had injuries to his chest and back, the court heard.

Miss Gruffydd added: 'It was a group action and a sustained assault. There was kicking and stamping and an attempt to cause more serious harm.'

Adeel Ali attacked Aquib Baig in an 'honour attack' in April

Defending Kasim Ali, Ben Morris said: 'I'm not too sure what honour-based means. If this was a young man from Liverpool, not of the Muslim faith, who didn't approve, he may well take steps to stop his sister from heading down a particular road.

'He is a sensible chap who doesn't hang about with the wrong sort and this is entirely out of character for him.

'The family are together and reunited. There is no rift between sister and brother or father and son.'

Darren Preston, for Adeel Ali, also refuted claims it was an honour attack.

He told the court: 'Whatever it was that sparked that violence in this young man, it was nothing to do with this honour-attack, as the prosecution has put it.

'He was angry for a specific reason, perhaps for a good one but of course that's no excuse.'

Philip Holden, defending Khalid, said: 'He made one kick and then desisted. He is very unlikely to become involved in anything like this in the future.

Kasim Ali pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, a section 47 assault and affray and was handed a 12-month jail term, suspended for two years.

Adeel Ali also admitted a section 47 assault and affray and was sentenced to a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years.

Khalid was given a 12-month community order after pleading guilty to affray. He was told he must complete 60 hours unpaid work.

Sentencing the trio, who are all from Blackburn, the judge told them: 'I hope you're all truly ashamed to find yourselves standing in this court.

'Your families are no doubt scratching their heads thinking what did we do wrong? Here they are being humiliated and embarrassed as we watch you, a cowardly group, attack someone else.

'Go back to your community, your families and build your reputation again. Don't ever come back to haunt this court with any honour-based violence.'