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Siblings jailed for forcing young woman into prostitution

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Latest news in Yorkshire: September 04, 2018 12:40:06 PM

A brother and sister who coerced a young woman into working as a prostitute
in Sheffield have now been jailed for their actions.

Nicolae Ionita, 24, met the victim in Romania, where they travelled to the
UK together in September last year. The victim made plans for the pair to
come over to the UK to seek employment and plans were made for them to work
in Milton Keynes. However after just two days, Nicolae Ionita convinced her
to move to Middlesbrough where they lived with his sister, Claudia Ionita,
30.

Over the next month, the pair, both of no-fixed-address, went on to coerce
and pressurise the victim into working as a prostitute in the town, before
the three of them moved to Sheffield in October.

Until November, the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was
forced to work as a prostitute in Sheffield, while living in the
Hillsborough area, as Detective Constable Gareth Bryant explains.

“The pair forced the young girl, who was expecting a job, money and a nice
place to live, to work as a prostitute in both Middlesbrough and Sheffield,
telling her that it was her only option. Together, and especially Nicolae
Ionita, they used the victim’s dependency on them as a means of exploiting
her.

“They controlled where she stayed and who she spoke to, monitoring her
phone-calls with friends and family and telling her what to say and as such,
was never able to tell anyone what was actually happening to her.

“However in November 2017, she found the confidence to phone home and tell
them what was happening. They encouraged her to tell someone and one day she
left the house where she was living and ran toward two members of the
public.

“They described the woman as scared and appearing dishevelled, as she tried
to ask them for help. As she spoke little English, they helped her to flag
down a police car.”

After officers spoke to the woman, an investigation in to the Ionita’s was
launched. In June, both were due to go on trial for two counts each of
causing or inciting prostitution for gain. The siblings entered guilty pleas
at the start of the trial and were bailed until sentencing at Sheffield
Crown Court yesterday (Monday 3 September), where they were each jailed for
21 months.

Claudia Ionita and Nicolae Ionita

DC Bryant continued: “The woman has been so incredibly brave throughout this
entire process, from coming forward to report what happened and working with
the investigative team to provide statements and evidence.

“She even said she would travel back from Romania, where she returned home
to be with her family, if she needed to testify against the pair.

“Her courage is a testament to getting the Ionita’s to court and now behind
bars. This was a complex investigation which saw two people exploit a
vulnerable young woman.

“Protecting vulnerable people is an absolute priority for us and we will
always do what we can to identify those who exploit people for their own
selfish gain or gratification.”

Detective Inspector Claire Mayfield, added: “This has been a protracted
investigation that has seen the courage of the victim tested over this time.

“She has demonstrated great courage in not only disclosing the abuse but
then supporting a criminal investigation from her home in the European
Union.

“The team have worked together with the assistance of the Romanian
Authorities to bring this to a successful conclusion, sending the message
that the exploitation of vulnerable individuals will not be tolerated.”

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