Two men who forced a Romanian teenager to work as a prostitute and pay all her earnings to them after she had been trafficked into Britain have been jailed.
Daniel Purea, 33, and Stephan Balog, 22, from Knaresborough Place, Kensington, did not let the 19-year-old woman sleep at night in case a client called.
The woman was eventually freed by police after she sent messages to her mother in Romania describing how she had been enslaved.
Daniel Purea, 33, and Stephan Balog, 22,(left and right) from Knaresborough Place, Kensington, did not allow the 19-year-old woman to sleep at night in case a client called
The victim told police she had arrived in the UK after Purea had organised a passport and paid for her travel to the UK.
He arranged for a set of glamour photos to be taken and he advertised her on London escort websites for which he told her she owed him a £2,000 debt.
Despite the fact she had repaid this debt ‘many times over’, all of the money she earned was taken by Purea. Balog helped transfer the profits of the evil enterprise.
Both men were sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday, 21 December, after they were convicted of controlling prostitution following a two-week trial.
Purea, who was also found guilty of human trafficking by arranging and facilitating the travel of another person with a view to sexual exploitation, contrary to the Modern Slavery Act 2015, was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment.
Balog was also found guilty of transferring criminal property contrary to the Proceeds of Crime Act and was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.
Officers from the Met’s Modern Slavery and Kidnap Unit raided an address in Kensington on Thursday, 6 July after receiving information that a woman was being controlled as a prostitute.
Both men were sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday, 21 December, after they were convicted of controlling prostitution following a two-week trial
A number of ledgers were found, including details of clients, fees and payments.
Purea and Balog were arrested at the scene and the woman was taken to a place of safety.
Detective Inspector Brian Hobbs, of the Met’s Modern Slavery and Kidnap Unit, said: ‘This vulnerable woman was trafficked to the UK from Romania, then these two men controlled and exploited her.
‘She was not allowed to sleep at night in case a client called, and had to surrender all her earnings to Purea.
‘Due to effective working partnerships with Romanian Authorities and the NCA, Met officers acted swiftly to safeguard the victim and arrest the two defendants.
‘This case demonstrates our commitment to prosecuting those responsible for human trafficking and modern slavery offences.’