Laszlo Matus, 53, colluded with the previously convicted Melinda Petrovics, 35, and Attila Angyal, 43, to dominate women, bringing them throughout the North West and coercing them to engage in sexual acts with strangers for financial gain.
Prosecutors secured a warrant for Laszlo Matus’s extradition from Austria to ensure he faced punishment in the UK for this crime.
Alan Richardson, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West said: “Laszlo Matus played a key part in a sophisticated operation to sexually exploit and traffic women by coercing them and facilitating their travel across the country so that they’d carry out sexual acts with strangers for money.
“Laszlo Matus appeared to be living with the women, monitoring their daily movements and received direct payments in exchange for the services provided by the women.
“Now all their exploiters have been brought to justice, I hope the women can begin to move on with their lives.”
The women involved, who were coerced by financial dependence, intimidation and the use of both violence and threats of violence, have suffered greatly.
The CPS worked with officers from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit to piece together the various strands of evidence including eyewitness testimony, CCTV footage, cell site data and phone evidence, to build a strong case.
On 20 May 2025, Laszlo Matus was found guilty of conspiracy to control prostitution, conspiracy to arrange travel of another with a view to exploitation and conspiracy to convert criminal property.
He was jailed on 20 June 2025 at Bolton Crown Court for seven years.
Notes to editors
Laszlo Matus (DOB 16/01/1972) was convicted of conspiracy to control prostitution for gain and conspiracy to arrange to facilitate travel of another with a view to exploitation and conspiracy to convert, transfer and remove criminal property
Melinda Petrovics (DOB 02/07/1989) was previously jailed for six years and four months
Attila Angyal (DOB 19/08/1981) was previously jailed for seven years and seven months.
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