Boarding a plane to Bangladesh 17-year-old Salema was looking forward to another family holiday with her parents and sister away from their family home in Bedford.

The teenager had no reason to question her parents’ intentions, but just weeks later she found herself forced into an Islamic marriage – later becoming the victim of mental, physical and sexual abuse.

After arriving in the small town of Sylhet Salema, she spent time with extended family.

It was only when her sister left after a week that she was told preparations were being made for her to marry a man she had never met.

After being manipulated by her family and emotionally blackmailed, the teenager went ahead with the wedding.

She suffered mental and sexual abuse at the hands of her husband – who she says – had control of her life, body and future.

Salema felt alone - surroundded only by people who agreed with the marriage.

Now, 20, and living in Waltham Forest, she is looking forward to getting her life back on track.

“I think I had an inkling but I trusted my parents not to do it to me. He was almost 19 and the son of my grandmother’s pastor.

“I knew I didn’t want to do it. When I look back I don’t really remember the wedding day, it was like a dream, a nightmare.

“It doesn’t feel like it happened.

“Afterwards there was a lot of psychological abuse and sexual abuse. After we were married he thought he could help himself to me.”

Salema eventually managed to contact a friend in the UK who in turn got in touch with her sister.

Hoping to get her home, her sister managed to secure a High Court order demanding that Salema be returned to the UK.

Her family then returned her after six weeks.

However, the trauma of the sexual, mental and physical abuse she had endured haunted her.

Vulnerable, depressed and lacking in self-worth, Salema developed trust issues, an eating disorder, and other health issues.

She even became suicidal.

After a month of living in her family home, Salema sought help.

“I had no idea where my life would go from there. I got help from women’s refuge Ashiana. They got my life back on track and started to talk to me about education,” she said.

“I don’t know what I would have done without them.”

On a visit to the Job Centre Salema was asked to take part in Prince’s Trust Scheme ‘Team’.

She added: “Team made me see that not everyone is out to hurt you. I learned not to let my past rule my life; and I realised that if my life was going to change, it was up to me to make it work. I stopped carrying the pain and resentment I felt around with me and looked to making a future for myself.”

Salema has been nominated for a Celebrate Success Award delivered by the trust and Samsung. The award recognises the achievements of young people who have turned their life around ‘against all odds’.

The event will take place on November 5 at Bloomsbury Ballroom.

Speaking out about forced marriage Salema warned other girls to be safe.

She said: “It is quite common. It doesn’t happen in every Muslim family but it happens.

“The problem is the parents, they do not see it as a forced marriage but a way of life.

“I would say to anyone who thinks it is a possibility for them to make sure they let people know when and where they are going away. They should take contact details of a friend with them, just in case.”