Four sentenced after police uncover prostitution ring in Easton

A road traffic officer who stopped a motorist on suspicion of driving with no insurance ended up unearthing a prostitution ring in Easton.

Two men and two women have been sentenced after admitting their involvement with a human trafficking and sexual exploitation operation run from their rented homes.

Marin Grigore, 29, of Tudor Road, trafficked a woman from abroad and, along with his wife and brother-in-law, arranged for women to sell sexual services.

Their operation was discovered after PC Matt Boiles stopped Grigore and his brother-in-law, Alexandru Dita, on Broad Weir in the early hours of July 28 last year, on suspicion of driving without insurance.

In the backseat of their BMW, the officer saw a 19-year-old woman wearing nightwear and sitting next to a suitcase, which raised his suspicions.

Checks revealed Dita had previous convictions for human trafficking offences and both men were arrested. More than £100,000 was found to have passed through the accounts of Dita and Grigore’s wife, Mirela Mincu.

The 19-year-old woman subsequently provided a statement to officers in which she told how Grigore had arranged for her to travel from Germany to work as a sex worker.

Police went to another home address given by Grigore on Bloy Street, where they found Mincu, along with his sister, Adriana Dita, and three women who told the officers they were sex workers.

Evidence found in the property suggested it was being used as a brothel, according to police, who later found adverts online offering sexual services for each of the other three women.

Enquiries into the adverts found they had been set up using Mincu’s email address while classified adverts in Romanian publications were also found with Mincu’s mobile number provided for people to contact.

A further two sex workers were also found by police at an address on Tudor Street, which was also rented by Grigore.

Alongside the £100,000 in the accounts of Mincu and Alexandru Dita, significant sums were also deposited into the accounts of Grigore and Adriana Dita in the 12 months prior.

Each of the four entered guilty to pleas to various offences at Bristol Crown Court earlier this year and were sentenced on Thursday, May 6.

Marin Grigore was jailed for 21 months for controlling prostitution for gain, arranging or facilitating travel of a person with a view to exploitation and acquiring, using and/or possessing criminal property.

Alexandru Dita, 30, of Burchells Green Road, Kingswood, was jailed for two years for controlling prostitution for gain and using and/or possessing criminal property.

Mirela Mincu, 32, of Roman Road, was jailed for 23 months, suspended for two years, for controlling prostitution for gain and using and/or possessing criminal property. She will also be subject to a three month curfew and have to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work

Adriana Dita, 26, also of Roman Road, was given a 12 month community order, requiring her to do 50 hours of unpaid work for using and/or possessing criminal property.

Commenting on the case, senior investigation officer detective inspector Mark Newbury said: “As a result of some great work by one of our roads policing officers, who recognised there was more than met the eye when he stopped a suspicious car, we have successfully dismantled a prostitution ring which saw at least one woman trafficked from abroad to work in brothels.

“While we didn’t uncover evidence any women had been forced into prostitution, there was no shortage of proof they were being exploited and clear evidence at least one had been manipulated and coerced into becoming a sex worker.

“In her statement, the woman found in the car revealed Marin Grigore had lured her to the UK with the promise he would leave his wife so they could begin a relationship. He used her feelings for him and desire to move to the UK to manipulate her into working for him at his brothels.

“Grigore and Alexandru Dita were clearly the ring leaders of the operation, which saw them make huge sums of money from women selling sexual services.

“Playing an equal role in the setup was Mincu – who we established through her text messages and the online adverts coordinated most of the women’s appointments.

“None of those involved were able to account for their bank balances with only Grigore apparently having a job – cleaning cars for £50 a day.

“It is totally unacceptable they should benefit from their activities and we will seek to confiscate their illegal earnings through the Proceeds of Crime Act.”

DI Newbury added: “We care about the safety and welfare of sex workers and the woman found in the car in her dressing gown, along with those found at Grigore’s home address and several others connected with the inquiry were spoken to by specialist officers and offered support.

“I hope this case shows how committed we are to ensuring those who exploit vulnerable people are brought to justice.”

Main photos courtesy of Avon and Somerset Police