A resident of a cul-de-sac in Newport helped bring down an international prostitution ring after becoming suspicious of the comings and goings at an address on the quiet street. A sentencing hearing heard how their log of visitors to the address in Bishpool View brought down a major criminal enterprise.
Four sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court
Cardiff Crown Court heard how George Filip, 45, his wife Ionela Filip, 35, Leonard Banica, 41, and Alexandru Moco all played roles in the conspiracy to traffic sex workers into the UK and transport them around the country to work as prostitutes.
The group were sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court to a combined 30 years imprisonment, with Ionela Filip receiving a suspended sentence.
Ring stretched from Scotland to Romania
The crime ring's reach stretched from the highlands of Scotland to Romania. The sex workers were taken to towns including Cwmbran, Hereford, Stoke-on-Trent, Aberdeen and Inverness.
The defendants advertised the services of the prostitutes online and managed communications with clients and managed bank accounts for payment. They used multiple photos of sex workers in provocative poses which would be posted on websites.
Hundreds of thousands sent offshore
They made hundreds of thousands of pounds, and the funds were sent to offshore accounts by the defendants.
The full coverage of the sentencing hearing sets out the exact roles of the four defendants and how the conspiracy worked.
