Romanian gang which ‘ruthlessly’ exploited vulnerable women in brothels jailed

The members of a Romanian gang who “ruthlessly” exploited vulnerable women after plying them with drugs at brothels in Scotland have been jailed.

Mircea Marian Cumpanasoiu, Cristian Urlateanu, Remus Stan, Catalin Dobre and Alexandra Bugonea were found guilty in January this year of a range of offences, including rape, following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

The trial, involving ten victims, lasted six weeks and came after a police investigation launched in 2021 to target suspected human traffickers operating in the Tayside area.

The group were sentenced when they returned to the High Court in Glasgow on Monday, the Crown Office said.

Catalin Dobre and Remus Stan. Credit: PA

Ring-leader Cumpanasoiu, described in court as a “smirking, winking pimp”, was sentenced to 20 years.

Prosecutors said the 38-year-old supplied drugs to, and raped multiple women, as well as being involved in sexual coercion.

All five individuals, who are from Romania, have been added to the sex offenders’ register for an indefinite period.

Fiona Kirkby, Procurator Fiscal for High Court Sexual Offences, said: “This gang ruthlessly exploited vulnerable women for their own gain, without any regard for the suffering and trauma they caused.”

She added: “These were truly reprehensible crimes, and the victims must be commended for their courage in speaking out.”

The court heard cases of numerous rapes carried out by the defendants as they ran their illegal businesses at various sites in Dundee.

The interior of a brothel on Bright Street in Dundee. Credit: PA

Cumpanasoiu, also known as “Mario”, was found guilty of 15 charges, including running brothels and earlier pleaded guilty to a further three charges: attempting to pervert the course of justice; knowingly living off the earnings of prostitution; and possession of a knife.

Prosecutors said the 38-year-old supplied drugs to, and raped multiple women, as well as being involved in sexual coercion.

Urlateanu, 41, was found guilty of nine charges, including rape, assault, living off the earnings of prostitution and the supply of cocaine.

At the time of the offending, he lived with his partner and co-accused, Alexandra Bugonea, 35.

Urlateanu and Bugonea were both found guilty of raping the same woman together on various occasions at a flat in Dundee.

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Stan was found guilty of eight charges, including trafficking a woman into prostitution with his co-accused, Cumpanasoiu, and rape.

Dobre, 45, was found guilty of five charges, including the gang rape of one woman alongside Urlateanu and Stan.

Bugonea, 34, was convicted of five charges, including rape and providing drugs to multiple women.

Prosecutors said that after Cumpanasoiu and Stan were arrested, their co-accused, Urlateanu and Bugonea, were located in Belgium and extradited.

Dobre was traced in the Czech Republic and brought back to Scotland for the trial.

Helplines for sexual assault, rape survivors and mental health

Support for sexual abuse victims and mental health helplines

• Rape Crisis England & Wales runs a rape and sexual abuse support line – you can call the helpline on 0808 500 2222 or use the online chat (both are free and are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year)