Brothel owners 'flogged' Romanian woman 'Bella' in Blackpool

Razvan Zidaru, Valentina Cretu, Valentin Ghelase, Valentin Caraman, and Mihaela-Diana Barbieru from Blackburn, and Marius Serban from Preston, advertised the women online and transported them around the county for sex work.

They applied a premiums to customers who wanted to know a woman who was 'new in town', offering a woman for hire as 'Bella' in Blackpool in one week and as 'Kathy' in Whitehaven the next.

The racket was uncovered after people living in a street in Blackburn raised concerns of a ‘conveyor belt’ of men turning up to a house late at night or in the early hours of the morning. An investigation revealed that the address at St Stephen’s Road was just one in a network of brothels being operated in Blackburn, Burnley, Preston, Leeds, Bradford, Nottingham and London.

Six of the defendants pleaded guilty to commercial exploitation of a number of women. They were sentenced at Preston Crown Court between Monday, November 23, and Wednesday, November 25.

Det sgt Stu Peall, of Lancashire police's exploitation team which led the investigation, said: “This gang used these women as nothing more than a commodity without any regard for their wellbeing or human rights. The evidence compiled by the police clearly showed they were controlling women for the purposes of prostitution.

“Lancashire Constabulary is committed to tackling exploitation of all kinds and today’s sentences are the culmination of the hard work and dedication of our officers who continue to work proactively to put an end to modern slavery.”

“I would like to thank the community for the help they provided in this case which assisted us in bringing a successful prosecution. We welcome any community intelligence that may help to identify addresses where prostitution may be taking place If you suspect suspicious activity is taking place, please let us know. We take all reports seriously and will investigate thoroughly."

JAILED:

Razvan Zidaru, 30, Douglas Place, Blackburn - 24 months

Valentina Cretu, 31, Douglas Place, Blackburn - 24 months

Valentin Ghelase, 35, Fielden Street, Blackburn - 21 months

Marius Serban, 39, Castleton Road, Preston - 21 months

Valentin Caraman, 38, Oakenhurst Road, Blackburn - 21 months

Mihaela-Diana Barbieru, 32, Fielden Street, Blackburn - 19 months