Five men and two women have received imprisonment and suspended prison sentences for their involvement in the sexual exploitation of young women in the UK.
A five-year collaborative investigation between South Yorkshire Police and Romanian Police has dismantled a significant sex trafficking organised crime syndicate.
Between 2016 and 2019, fourteen young women in their 20s and 30s were trafficked from Romania to the UK and subjected to sexual exploitation at various locations in London and Doncaster.
The collaborative operation involved South Yorkshire Police collaborating with Romanian authorities to expose a franchise network of sex trafficking in Doncaster, Ilford, and Norwich.
Officers analysed phone records revealing communications among gang members, documented substantial currency transfers between bank accounts linked to the traffickers, and monitored vehicles nationwide utilised for the transportation of women for sexual exploitation.
Officers revealed the extent of years of torture and coercion endured by the gang’s victims. The women endured sexual, physical, and financial abuse perpetrated by their traffickers, who aimed to dominate and sexually exploit them for personal financial benefit.
Specialist police in Romania have provided support to the fourteen women who were trafficked and exploited.
After comprehensive evidence collection, coordinated arrests of six traffickers were conducted by officers in November 2019 for human trafficking, money laundering, and prostitution charges, with an additional seventh arrest occurring in July 2020 for the same crimes.
Today, at Sheffield Crown Court (25 April), seven individuals were convicted to a cumulative total of thirteen years in jail, with three receiving two-year suspended sentences.
This follows a five-week trial before the same court in 2024, during which the eight individuals pleaded guilty to the offence of regulating prostitution for profit.
- Valentin Badica, 39, of Ellesmere Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.
- Cristian Damaschin, 35, of Farndale Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.
- Ionica Badica, 34, Farndale Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, was sentenced to two years and two months in prison.
- Mihaela Matei, 28, of Ellesmere Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, was sentenced to one year and ten months suspended for two years. Matei was also ordered to undertake 180 hours of unpaid work and granted a 25 day rehabilitation order.
- Ionut-leonard Bahica, 38, of Atkinson Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, was sentenced to eleven months, suspended for two years.
- Adrian Cioroaba, 33, of Cream Street, Sheffield was sentenced to eleven months, suspended for two years.
- Iuliana Mavroian, 41, of Colston Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne, was sentenced to one year and ten months, suspended for two years. Mavroian was also ordered to undertake 180 hours of unpaid work and granted a 25 day rehabilitation order.
Following the sentencing, Officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Sergeant Rachael Smith, said:
“This has been an extensive investigation that has led to the successful shut down of a dangerous organised crime group. Our investigation team worked incredibly hard over many months to build a case against this cruel network of organised crime.
“I would like to thank our colleagues at the Romanian Police, the National Crime Agency, Metropolitan Police, Staffordshire Police, Staffordshire Regional Organised Crime Unit, Northumbria Police, Norfolk Police, East Midlands Special Operations Unit and North East Regional Organised Crime Unit and Europol AP Phoenix. I am pleased that our coordinated working has led to the successful prosecution of these eight individuals and the disruption of organised crime.
“I hope this sends a clear message to those seeking to destroy the lives of others for #their own gain – we will come after you and bring you before the courts to secure justice for victims of trafficking and modern slavery.
“Everyone deserves to live their life free from harm and control, but these individuals chose to exploit the vulnerability of their young victims with no care for the damage they caused. We will continue to work hard to ensure that vulnerable people are protected from harm and exploitation does not happen in our towns and cities.”
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.