The family of a 10-year-old girl run down and killed outside her school live in fear of the driver's relatives after suffering a campaign of intimidation, a court has heard.

Sobia Aftar, 33, has now been jailed for 20 months for causing the death of little Marianne Haboc by careless driving.

She appeared from custody at Minshull Street Crown Court despite having been initially released from custody under investigation.

The court heard Aftar was re-arrested after police caught her and husband Aftar Hussain, known as Raj, at Manchester Airport in January, with ten suitcases and their four children preparing to board a flight to Saudi Arabia.

A judge then agreed to hold her in custody before she was charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

A trial had been set to go ahead on Monday before prosecutors agreed to accept her guilty plea to the lesser charge.

Aftar wept in the dock as prosecutors outlined how she caused the death of Marianne as children were walking home from St Patrick's RC Primary School on the afternoon of October 1 last year.

The court heard Aftar had her own young daughter in the car and was on her way to buy a birthday card for a children's party when she turned around in a cul-de-sac off Taylor Street, just yards from her own home.

Mark Rhind, prosecuting, told the court it was around 3.30pm, school had just finished and there were a number of young children and parents in the area.

Among them was schoolgirl Marianna Haboc, and three friends, who were walking on the pavement down Taylor Street.

"Marianne was due to start secondary school in the next school year," Mr Rhind said.

(Image: GMP)

"And at that time, children were being encouraged to begin to walk home by themselves rather than have parents pick them up, in order that they gain confdence."

Marianne's father William Haboc was waiting for her nearby on Whitworth Street, the court heard.

Aftar, an inexperienced driver who had passed her test only months beforehand, performed a manoeuvre in her red Range Rover to turn around which left two wheels mounted on the kerb.

"She did not look and certainly did not see Marianne and her friends," Mr Rhind said.

Instead, she "simply continued to go forwards" and struck Marianne, causing her to suffer fatal head injuries.

Aftar later told police she never saw Marianne but did see her friends.

She claimed she then accidentally pushed the accelerator instead of the brake in the powerful Range Rover, the court heard.

Aftar was arrested at the scene of the incident and released under investigation, after being interviewed by police.

In a harrowing victim impact statement read to the court, Mr Haboc told how both he and his wife Joanna ran to the scene and had to watch as paramedics battled unsuccessfully to save their daughter's life.

Marianne, a talented gymnast, was their only daughter and her death has left them 'numb'.

The court heard how their grieving process has been made all the more difficult because of the actions of Aftar's family and friends.

In the days after Marianne's death, Mr Haboc said he had a 'chance meeting' with Aftar's husband Raj.

"He offered to give me money for the funeral," Mr Haboc said.

"It didn't feel genuine, it felt like an effort to bribe me.

"It was as if he owed our family something."

Mr Haboc did not accept any money but shortly afterwards, 'a group of males came and started knocking on the door', he said.

"This was intimidating and stopped us grieving."

(Image: STEVE ALLEN)

"When we have been to the scene to pray there has been more intimidating behaviour.

"Large groups of males scaring us when we are trying to grieve for Marianne."

The court heard police were also forced to pass on a warning that a threat had been made towards the Habocs home and they had to call the fire service to put protective measures in place.

"At this time I was taking sleeping medication. Due to the threats I have stopped taking my tablets so I can wake up if I have to," Mr Haboc added.

"Our grieving process has been interrupted because of the family and friends of Sobia Aftar.

"She tried to leave the country to escape justice for what she had done.

"She showed no remorse or took responsibility for what she has done."

Mr Haboc went on: "Marianne was our best friend.

"We always wanted more children but we were unable.

"A big part of our culture is being supported by our children.

"We are struggling with the fact that we will have nobody to look after us."

Mr Haboc, a telecomms engineer, said both he and his wife have struggled to go back to work since the tragedy and have found themselves in financial hardship to the point bailiffs have turned up at their door.

"Sometimes I feel like hiding in the loft until it all goes away but I know I can't do this," he said.

Mr Rhind said police have looked into the intimidation and are 'satisfied this is what happened' but accept that Aftar 'was not the driving force behind any of the incidents'.

(Image: STEVE ALLEN)

Nevertheless, Judge Maurice Greene, presiding, agreed it was 'appalling behaviour'.

Michael Hayton QC, defending Aftar, told the court: "Any suggestion she doesn't feel remorse is unfounded."

"As a mother, she cannot imagine how awful it must be for the mother of Marianne.

"She is devastated by what took place, she genuinely is.

"This case is something that will haunt her forever.

"She could not be more sorry for it."

Mr Hayton asked if the court could suspend any prison sentence imposed on the basis Aftar has already served six months behind bars.

But Judge Greene said only an immediate custodial sentence could reflect the seriousness of the case.

He jailed Aftar for 20 months of which she will serve ten in prison and a further ten on licence.

She was also disqualified from driving for two years and four months.

Sergeant Lee Westhead, from GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "Aftar’s actions that day took the life of a little girl and irrevocably changed the lives of all of Marianne’s family and friends.

"This was an absolute tragedy that could have easily been avoided had Aftar driven with due care and attention.

"Having spent time with Marianne’s family, it has been made clear to me that she was a much loved and cherished child who was cruelly taken from her doting parents.

"I have only respect and admiration for her family, who have shown patience and dignity in the most terrible of circumstances."