A Romanian organised crime group that lured women to the UK under the pretence of a holiday before forcing them into prostitution has been jailed for a total of 38.5 years. Ringleader Ionut-Robert Marghiol, 37, ran a series of brothels in Bolton, Radcliffe and Moston, in Greater Manchester, where Romanian women he recruited were enslaved and put to work.
Campaign of rape and control
Manchester Crown Court heard how, having "lovebombed" and manipulated the women to come to the UK, Marghiol subjected them to a "campaign of rape" and even tattooed them like cattle to keep them under control. Judge Kate Cornell told Marghiol, "you can’t face up to the fact that you are a rapist, you are an abuser - there is no explanation, no mitigation for your conduct."
The gang - Marghiol; Denis Vatafu, 34; and husband and wife Nicolae, 33, and Maria Branovici, 27 - were jailed for a total of 38.5 years. Having contacted the first of his identified victims in 2019, Marghiol convinced her to come to Spain first. Judge Cornell said: "She was flattered and in your thrall. She believed that you loved her. When she arrived, she believed she was on holiday, but shortly after her arrival you put her to work in a club as a prostitute."
Survivors speak out
Two survivors of the modern slavery operation have spoken out about the abuse they suffered. One survivor said: "After I arrived in the UK, I started having panic attacks, and even now after so long, if somebody screams near me or is talking to me in an aggressive manner, the panic attacks come back. I don’t have any relationship with my relatives; my mum, my sister and one lady friend who I have known for a long time are the only ones I speak to. My biggest regret is that I hurt my mum, and she has suffered so much. When she heard me on the phone, she didn’t know if I was well, if I had anything to eat and so I had to lie to her."
Judge Cornell noted how Marghiol had used the same tactics on various women, luring them in, "love bombing" them and "tricking them" to come and work for him in the UK. Evidence showed how he had offered to buy underwear for some of the women and at some points even suggested plastic surgery to change their appearances. Marghiol had also boasted to his associates about how he "softened up" women for prostitution by having sex with them himself.
Investigation and convictions
Greater Manchester Police's (GMP) Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime (MSOIC) team led the investigation and established that the four defendants were part of a Romanian organised crime group (OCG) responsible for the recruitment, trafficking, and sexual exploitation of two confirmed victims, as well as additional unidentified victims. In June 2026 Marghiol and Vatafu went on trial. Their victims were trafficked both into and within the UK.
GMP said: "The pair exercised control over them for financial gain, advertising them for sex work on 'adult services' websites, then taking any money they earned. Evidence found on mobile phones revealed the extent of the exploitation and abuse, including discussions around using degrading sexual abuse as a method to groom and force victims into submission. As well as sexually exploiting the victims, Marghiol subjected them to multiple rapes and used physical violence to intimidate and control them. Two victims have bravely given evidence in support of this investigation."
Following a three-week trial Marghiol was convicted of four counts of rape, three counts of requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour, four counts of facilitating the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, three counts of running a brothel, one count of perverting the course of justice, and one count of actual bodily harm. Vatafu was convicted of facilitating the travel of another person with a view to exploitation and running a brothel. Nicolae and Maria Branovici, who are husband and wife, were arrested in February 2026 due to evidence uncovered as part of the ongoing investigation and subsequently pleaded guilty. Nicolae was convicted of two offences of facilitating the travel of another person with a view to exploitation and possession of cocaine. Maria was found guilty of facilitating the travel of another person with a view to exploitation.
Sentences and prevention orders
Ionut Robert Marghiol was jailed for 25 years in prison and handed an indefinite Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order (STPO). Denis Vatafu was jailed for eight years and handed a 15-year Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order (STPO). Nicolae Branovici was jailed for four and a half years and handed a 10-year Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order (STPO) while Maria Branovici was jailed for a year and handed a 10-year Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order (STPO).
Senior Investigating officer Detective Inspector Abigail Thomas, from GMP's serious and organised crime group (SOCG), said: "This investigation was launched when two women came forward to report the horrific sustained abuse and exploitation that they had endured. I would like to pay testament to their courage throughout the criminal justice process, in particular giving evidence at the trial, which was crucial in securing justice and ensuring that the two defendants are now safely behind bars and unable to cause harm to other women. Criminals committing these offences reap massive profits by preying on and exploiting vulnerable women. We remain committed to working with partners to tackle modern slavery and violence against women and girls, and to relentlessly pursuing offenders and disrupting organised crime groups (OCGs) committing this type of offending. We are also committed to working with partners to ensure that victims and survivors receive the protection and support they need."
