Pair handed 17 year sentence for trafficking women to work in West Yorkshire brothels
Victims were told they were coming to the UK to work in a meat factory but ended up working in the sex trade
Two people have been jailed for a combined 17 years for trafficking women from Romania under false pretences then forcing them to work in brothels in West Yorkshire.
Romanian nationals Costel Tambac, 50, and Mariana Iova, 35 - both formerly of Oldham - were found to be responsible for controlling the lives of two female victims.
Both victims were told they were coming to the UK to work in a meat factory but ended up working in the sex trade in Harehills, Holbeck, Dewsbury, Oldham and Nottingham.
The pair stole the money earned by the victims, leaving them with a 'wage' of as little as £10 a day.
One of the victims ultimately came forward to police in 2016.
Tambac and Iova were each found guilty of two counts of sexual exploitation of a female victim contrary to the Modern Slavery Act 2015, and two counts of controlling prostitution for gain contrary to Section 53 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
Tambac was handed nine years behind bars, while Iova will serve eight.
Speaking outside the court, Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Helen Steele of West Yorkshire Police, said: “First and foremost, my thoughts go out to the victims who suffered an horrendous ordeal."
“They were brought over to the UK under false pretences by organised criminals where they were sold as a commodity to be financially and sexually exploited through controlled prostitution.
“I hope the guilty verdicts together with the sentences handed down today will bring them some comfort as they continue with the process of rebuilding their lives.”
“I would also like to thank them for their bravery, their patience and their resilience as we pursued our investigation.
“Our investigation was complex and began nine years ago when one of the victims came forward.
“It was the first ever investigation for West Yorkshire Police to conduct as a Joint Investigation Team with the Romanian authorities, who I would also like to thank as it meant we could maximise all investigational opportunities.
“The Joint Investigation Team also led to the Romanian authorities convicting the people responsible for trafficking the victims to the UK.
“A successful prosecution would not have been possible without the assistance of colleagues in Romania.”