Four sentenced for their part in people trafficking and forced prostitution operation
Top: L-R: Arosculescei, Petrescu, Bottom: L-R: Hristu, Gill
Two people have pleaded guilty yesterday (Monday September 17, 2012)for their part in a people trafficking and forced prostitution operation.
Ionut Arosculescei, 20, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to trafficking a female into the UK for the purposes of sexual exploitation and was sentenced to 2 years at a young offender’s institute.
Ionut Arosculescei, 20, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to trafficking a female into the UK for the purposes of sexual exploitation and was sentenced to 2 years at a young offender’s institute.
Madalin Petrescu, 32, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to controlling a prostitute for gain and was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment.
Emiliu Hristu, 31, of New Park Road and Balbinder Gill, 36, of Welford Road pleaded guilty to managing a brothel at an earlier hearing. Hristu was sentenced to 20 months but has served this sentence on remand and Gill received a 10 month suspended sentence.
At Leicester Crown Court, it was revealed that on April 10 this year officers from Leicestershire Police executed warrants at addresses in Lyme Toad and New Parks Road as part of an investigation into people trafficking and forced prostitution.
Four women who were found at the addresses were provided with support from specialist officers.
Two of the women were identified as victims and helped police with their enquiries. They have since returned to their home country, Romania.
Detective Sergeant Stu Palmer, who investigated the incident said: “Although the victims’ are not from Leicester I hope this convictions shows we are committed to protecting the vulnerable and that today’s sentence shows members of the public that we dedicated to targeting organised crime.
At Leicester Crown Court, it was revealed that on April 10 this year officers from Leicestershire Police executed warrants at addresses in Lyme Toad and New Parks Road as part of an investigation into people trafficking and forced prostitution.
Four women who were found at the addresses were provided with support from specialist officers.
Two of the women were identified as victims and helped police with their enquiries. They have since returned to their home country, Romania.
Detective Sergeant Stu Palmer, who investigated the incident said: “Although the victims’ are not from Leicester I hope this convictions shows we are committed to protecting the vulnerable and that today’s sentence shows members of the public that we dedicated to targeting organised crime.
“One of the victims was a 17-year-old Romanian girl who had been brought to the UK under the understanding she would be given legitimate work. Although when she arrived in the country she was forced into prostitution. She was so grateful to the police for rescuing her that she was more than willing to come back to the UK and give evidence but luckily due to the guilty pleas she was spared the trauma of reliving what happened to her.
“Fortunately, offences such as this are not a regular occurrence in Leicester. However, just because these offences don’t regularly occur in our city does not mean we are any less committed to tackling them and targeting the offenders.
“This operation came about as a result of members of the public raising concerns over the activity at the two addresses. Our thanks must be passed on to them as without them contacting us we may not have been able to help the victims and bring about a successful prosecution.”
“Fortunately, offences such as this are not a regular occurrence in Leicester. However, just because these offences don’t regularly occur in our city does not mean we are any less committed to tackling them and targeting the offenders.
“This operation came about as a result of members of the public raising concerns over the activity at the two addresses. Our thanks must be passed on to them as without them contacting us we may not have been able to help the victims and bring about a successful prosecution.”
Updated on 23/09/12 at 16:39
