A court revealed that a couple coerced women into having sex with “six to eight clients” daily, subjecting them to physical abuse. Costel Tambac, 50, and Marianna Iova, 35, confiscated mobile phones and identification from women trafficked from Romania to work in the UK. One victim, aged 19, was lured to the UK in 2016 via a Facebook message promising work, while a 25-year-old was deceived by a man posing as her partner.
Upon arrival at the defendants’ residence in Wolverhampton, Tambac paid the trafficker who brought the women and immediately exhibited controlling behavior by breaking the victims’ phones. Iova seized one woman’s identity card, and both victims were coerced into prostitution alongside other young women at the couple’s home. The victims endured threats, physical violence, and exploitation as they were forced to engage in sexual activities with multiple clients daily.
The prosecution highlighted that Tambac transported the women to meet clients outside the house, collecting payments for services rendered directly. The victims received minimal compensation, with most earnings going to the defendants. Iova spent £30,000 on advertising the victims’ services online. Despite police interventions at various locations, one victim managed to escape with the help of a client.
In 2018, Tambac and Iova fled the UK during the investigation but were apprehended in Amsterdam earlier this year and extradited back to the UK. Both were convicted of sexual exploitation and controlling prostitution under relevant laws. Tambac received a nine-year prison sentence, while Iova was sentenced to eight years. They may face deportation post-incarceration and are subject to slavery and trafficking protection orders.
Detective Superintendent Helen Steele of West Yorkshire Police expressed empathy for the victims and commended their courage throughout the investigation. She emphasized the collaborative effort with Romanian authorities, resulting in successful prosecutions and the dismantling of the trafficking network responsible for exploiting the victims.
