Women abused in Ilford by sex trafficking ring

Between 2016 and 2019, 14 women in their 20s and 30s were trafficked to the UK from Romania to be sexually exploited at multiple addresses in Ilford and Doncaster. 

Five men and two women have now been sentenced for conspiracy to control prostitution for financial gain. 

Police said the victims suffered years of abuse including sexual, physical and financial abuse at the hands of the traffickers. 

Cristian Damaschin ran the Ilford portion of the business (Image: SYP) Cristian Damaschin, 35, ran the Ilford section of the business whilst his partner Mihaela Matei, 28, worked alongside him as a receptionist. 

Damaschin, of Farndale Road in Newcastle, was jailed for two years and eight months. 

Matei, of Colston Street in Newcastle, was given a suspended sentence of one year and 10 months including 180 hours of unpaid work. 

Valentin Badica, 39, managed the Doncaster branch alongside his brother Ionica Badica, 34. 

Valentin Badica (Image: SYP) Valentin, of Ellesmere Road in Newcastle, was jailed for two years and eight months. 

Ionica, of Farndale Road in Newcastle, was jailed for two years and two months. 

Ionica Badica (Image: SYP) Three other people received suspended sentences – Ionut-Leonard Bahica, 39, of Atkinson Road in Newcastle, Adrian Cioroaba, 33, of Cheam Street in Sheffield, and Iuliana Mavroian, 41, of Colston Street in Newcastle. 

Det Sgt Rachael Smith, from South Yorkshire Police, said: “I hope this sends a clear message to those seeking to destroy the lives of others for their own gain – we will come after you and bring you before the courts to secure justice for victims of trafficking and modern slavery. 

“Everyone deserves to live their life free from harm and control, but these individuals chose to exploit the vulnerability of their young victims with no care for the damage they caused. 

“We will continue to work hard to ensure that vulnerable people are protected from harm and exploitation does not happen in our towns and cities.”