Allegations of Exploitation and Control
A 56-year-old Belfast man stands accused of arranging for up to 25 other men to pay him to have sex with a vulnerable woman in his flat, a court has heard. Thomas Crossey, of Henderson Avenue in north Belfast, faces a series of charges including controlling prostitution for gain, human trafficking, and causing someone to engage in sexual activity.
The court was told that the alleged offending took place over a four-year period, beginning in 2021 when the complainant was just 18 years old. Prosecutors claim Crossey exploited the woman, who has an addiction to cocaine and heroin, by providing her with drugs in exchange for sexual acts.
Detailed Account of Alleged Coercion
The complainant, now 22, told police she managed to escape from Crossey's flat on 22 October this year by biting him after he tried to prevent her from leaving. She provided a detailed account to detectives, alleging that Crossey would organise taxis to bring her to his home where she was supplied with drugs in return for sex.
According to Crown counsel, the woman stated she would sometimes stay for days at a time, "being used for sex and given drugs." The court heard that she suspects Crossey set up an escort profile using her name and photos from her Facebook account. He then allegedly received phone calls from men who would arrive at the flat and pay him £100 or £150 for her to go into the bedroom with them.
"If she didn't, the defendant would not let her have any drugs, so she did it every time, faking a smile and doing what they wanted," counsel submitted. "This happened 20 to 25 times with different men over the years."
Further Evidence and Bail Refusal
Prosecutors argued that phone messages sent by Crossey corroborate parts of the alleged victim's account. In these messages, he allegedly referred to the woman as a "nurse" who injected him with substances and discussed "putting to work" another woman using a racial slur.
During searches of Crossey's flat, where he claims to live alone, police uncovered 11 phones, bottles of nail polish, a bank card in the complainant's name, and medical or electoral cards belonging to other unidentified women. A large kitchen knife and a hammer were found concealed under a pillow on the living room sofa.
Opposing bail, the prosecution highlighted the alleged victim's vulnerability due to her personality disorder and addiction issues. Crossey's lawyer argued that his client vehemently denies all charges and pointed to inconsistencies in the woman's account, noting her significant mental health issues.
However, Mr Justice McAlinden refused bail, citing risks of further offending and potential interference with the investigation. The judge described the alleged offending as "vile" and "horrendous," particularly the "use of a vulnerable young female for sexual gratification and buying those favours by feeding an addiction."
Crossey also faces further counts of false imprisonment and common assault related to an investigation launched last month. He denies all charges against him.
