Pair jailed for “extensive trafficking operation” across Scotland
Sentencing was at the High Court in Edinburgh earlier
Last updated 8th Nov 2024
A man and woman have been jailed for a total of 10 years and nine months for an “extensive trafficking operation” across Scotland.
Mananchaya Wanitthanawet, 40, and Cameron Wilson, 30, both of Yeovil, Somerset, carried out their crimes in various areas including Dundee, Aberdeen, Inverness and Edinburgh between July 2019 and July 2022.
Wanitthanawet was found guilty of recruiting, transporting and harbouring the women, featuring them in adverts for sexual services and forcing them into prostitution.
Each of the charges against Wanitthanawet were aggravated by a connection to serious crime while two were aggravated by connections to trafficking.
She was sentenced to nine years in jail.
Meanwhile, Wilson, who's described as her former partner, was convicted of living off the earnings of prostitution, aggravated by a connection to serious crime, and will serve 21 months behind bars.
Both were convicted of laundering dirty money totalling £136,880.
They were sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh following an earlier five-day trial.
Moira Orr, who leads on major crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: “Mananchaya Wanitthanawet and Cameron Wilson exploited vulnerable women for their own financial benefit without any regard to the suffering they caused.
“These two women were trafficked into Scotland to be used as prostitutes and moved around various properties.
“These are truly despicable crimes, and I wish to commend the victims for their courage in speaking out and ensuring these two individuals were brought to justice.
“Human trafficking has no place in Scotland.
“COPFS prosecutors will use every tool at their disposal to secure justice in all such cases – and I would encourage any victim or witness of a similar offending to report it and seek support.
“We will continue target criminals who abuse, control and exploit vulnerable people, working with partners nationally and internationally to bring offenders to justice, and to raise public awareness to help identify victims and ensure they get the support they need.”