Three Romanians who tricked a 24 year-old girl into prostitution – grabbing all the cash she made servicing a string of punters with sex – have been locked-up after the victim’s boyfriend trapped the gang.
The Romanian victim was promised a lucrative hostess career in London, but on her arrival was forced into prostitution with the threat her boyfriend would meet a violent end if she did not cooperate.
Ringleader Constantin Tarau, 27, (pic. l.) was jailed for six years; Catalin Baluta, 33, (pic. mid.) received three-and-a-half years and Mihaela Padurau, 21, (pic. r.) eighteen months.
All lived in Prout Grove, Willesden, where on December 16, 2007, victim ‘Sofie’ arrived after being persuaded to leave her homeland alone and was told her only future was having sex with strangers for cash.
The Croydon Crown Court trial heard Tarau befriended ‘Sofie’ and her partner in Romania and she was met at Luton Airport by Baluta who warned her ‘something bad would happen’ to her boyfriend if she didn’t cooperate.
Between December 17 and 28, Sofie was forced to work as a prostitute in various brothels in London and was one of several girls being "controlled" by the gang.
The money she made was initially split halfway between her and her controllers, however after a short time they seized all of her money.
Baluta and Padurau would contact and make all the arrangements with various brothels and would order taxis to take her there.
Her boyfriend formed a plan to rescue her, keeping Tarau on side by claiming to bring another Romanian girl to London to work as a prostitute.
On his arrival at Luton Airport he contacted Bedfordshire Police and officers arrested Tarau who had come to the airport to collect him and the 'female' he was meant to be traveling with.
The case was referred to the Metropolitan Police's Human Trafficking Team who mounted an investigation.
Detective Constable Kieron Tiddy paid tribute to the bravery of Sofie's boyfriend, saying: "The courage he displayed in his bid to rescue his girlfriend was exceptional.
“He demonstrated great initiative hatching and executing his brave plan, helping police to rescue Sofie and convict this trafficking gang.
"Thanks must also go to the Romanian Police who managed to secure the speedy extradition of Tarau from Romania."
Head of the Human Trafficking Team Detective Inspector Steve Wilkinson said: "Through intimidation this gang forced a vulnerable young woman to do things against her will and failed to honour any of her basic human rights.
“They sought to profit from the exploitation of another human being in the most horrible way."
All three were convicted of conspiring to cause or incite prostitution for gain and conspiring to control prostitution.
Tarau alone was convicted of conspiring to traffic a person into the U.K. for sexual exploitation.
No comments:
Post a Comment