Theresa May has pressed Iranian president Hassan Rouhani over a former Brockley resident who is facing a five-year jail sentence after being accused of trying to overthrow the government.

Iranian-born British citizen Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who lived in Tywhitt Road for three years, has reportedly suffered dangerous weight loss and hair loss and has become "increasingly frail and desperate" during her incarceration. 

She was reportedly sentenced earlier this month after being detained for months without charge - but the UK authorities have not been given details of the legal process.

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Nazanin with British husband Richard Ratcliffe and their daughter Gabriella, who is in the care of her grandparents in Tehran

The charity worker was arrested at Imam Khomeini airport on April 3 on her way back to Britain after visiting her family with daughter Gabriella. 

Mrs May met the Iranian leader in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and is understood to have raised concerns about Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

News of the sentencing emerged earlier this month, shortly after the UK resumed full diplomatic ties with Iran. 

A UK government source said: "We think it is important with all the relations we have with countries around the world, that we can engage frankly where there are consular issues that need resolving.

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"I think our view is if we are going to have a productive relationship with Iran moving forward, if Iran wants to increase its reputation for working with international partners on things, then we should be able to raise such issues and discuss them while continuing to develop a relationship."

The talks between the two leaders also included Mrs May's desire to make it easier to return illegal immigrants to Iran.