Four sentenced for Bristol human trafficking
A police investigation was launched after a seemingly routine traffic stop last year
Two men and two women have been sentenced after pleading admitting their involving in a prostitution ring.
Marin Grigore, 29, of Tudor Road, Bristol, trafficked a woman from abroad and, working with his wife and brother-in-law, arranged for women to sell sexual services from their homes in Easton, Bristol.
Officers discovered their operation after stopping Grigore and his brother-in-law, Alexandru Dita, in the early hours of 28 July last year on suspicion of driving without insurance.
A 19-year-old woman, wearing nightwear sat next to a suitcase, was discovered in the backseat of the car.
Checks showed Dita had previous convictions for human trafficking offences and officers arrested both men, after which the woman told them she had travel from Germany arranged by Grigore to come and work as a sex worker.
When officers attended a property on Bloy Street in Bristol, which he gave as his home address, they discovered his wife, Mirela Mincue, his sister Adriana Dita, and three woman who also told officers they were sex workers. A further two women were discovered during a search of another property on Tudor Road.
All four entered guilty to pleas to various offences at Bristol Crown Court earlier this year and were sentenced at the same court yesterday (6 May).
Marin Grigore, was jailed for 21 months for controlling prostitution for gain, arranging or facilitating travel of a person with a view to exploitation and acquiring, using and/or possessing criminal property.
Alexandru Dita, 30, of Burchells Green Road, Kingswood, South Gloucestershire was jailed for two years for controlling prostitution for gain and using and/or possessing criminal property.
Mirela Mincu, 32, of Roman Road, Bristol was jailed for 23 months, suspended for two years for controlling prostitution for gain and using and/or possessing criminal property. She will also be subject to a three month curfew and have to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work
Adriana Dita, 26, also of Roman Road, was given a 12 month community order requiring her to do 50 hours of unpaid work for using and/or possessing criminal property.
Senior Investigation Officer Detective Inspector Mark Newbury said: “As a result of some great work by one of our roads policing officers who recognised there was more than met the eye when he stopped a suspicious car, we have successfully dismantled a prostitution ring which saw at least one woman trafficked from abroad to work in brothels.
“While we didn’t uncover evidence any women had been forced into prostitution, there was no shortage of proof they were being exploited and clear evidence at least one had been manipulated and coerced into becoming a sex worker.
“In her statement, the woman found in the car revealed Marin Grigore had lured her to the UK with the promise he would leave his wife so they could begin a relationship. He used her feelings for him and desire to move to the UK to manipulate her into working for him at his brothels.
“Grigore and Alexandru Dita were clearly the ring leaders of the operation which saw them make huge sums of money from women selling sexual services.
“Playing an equal role in the setup was Mincu – who we established through her text messages and the online adverts, coordinated most of the women’s appointments.
“None of those involved were able to account for their bank balances with only Grigore apparently having a job – cleaning cars for £50 a day.
“It is totally unacceptable they should benefit from their activities and we will seek to confiscate their illegal earnings through the Proceeds of Crime Act.”
DI Newbury added: “We care about the safety and welfare of sex workers and the woman found in the car in her dressing gown, along with those found at Grigore’s home address and several others connected with the inquiry were spoken to by specialist officers and offered support.
“I hope this case shows how committed we are to ensuring those who exploit vulnerable people are brought to justice.”