Three Fulham Women Jailed for Trafficking and Prostitution Offences
Russian women were based in Brompton Park Crescent and Imperial Wharf
Russian women living in two of Fulham's most upmarket developments, Brompton Park Cresent and Imperial Wharf are among seven members of an organised criminal network who were sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday June 11 for offences including trafficking a woman for sexual exploitation and conspiracy to control prostitution.
The criminal network were running 'high end' escort sites, controlling around 100 women from all over Europe working as prostitutes in west London.
During the investigation, police identified 18 premises in and around Kensington, Chelsea and Fulham that had been used as brothels. The women also made 'out call' visits to clients.
During the course of the investigation, a woman, aged in her thirties, was identified as having been trafficked into the UK from Bulgaria for the purposes of prostitution.
A trial started at Southwark Crown Court on May 19. Four people were found guilty on June 6, as below, and sentenced on Tuesday, June 10.
Tatiana Shmyrova, aged 45 , a Russian national living in Brompton Park Crescent was convicted of conspiracy to traffic persons into the United Kingdom for sexual exploitation. She previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to control prostitution for gain and offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act. She was sentenced to eight years imprisonment.
Natalia Cannon, aged 34, a Russian national of Harbour Reach, The Boulevard, Imperial Wharf was found guilty of conspiracy to control prostitution for gain and offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act. She was sentenced to six years.
Two men were also sentenced. Michael Poole, aged 28, a UK national of Hazelwood Lane, Palmers Green N13 was found guilty of conspiracy to control prostitution for gain. He was sentenced to 12 months.
William Cannon, aged 52, a UK national of Rochester Row, SW1 was found guilty of conspiracy to control prostitution for gain. He was sentenced to eight months imprisonment suspended for two years and 200 hours of unpaid work.
Three other people had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to conspiracy to control prostitution for gain.
Irina Bespalova, aged 32, of Brompton Park Crescent, SW6 was sentenced to eight months.
Richard Gorecki, aged 37, of Caspian Walk, London E16 was sentenced to two years.
Jerzy Molczun, aged 26, of Taywood Road Northolt was sentenced to 12 months.
All seven had been arrested by MPS officers on 14 May 2013.
DCI Mick Forteath said: "These convictions show the ongoing commitment from the MPS Trafficking and Kidnap Unit to work tirelessly - supported by our partners, including the European Communities Against Trafficking Project - to support victims of trafficking in all its forms.
"Behind each trafficking conviction is a wake of human misery and exploitation. We will continue to use all means possible to defeat organised criminal groups involved in trafficking and prostitution."
"I urge anyone who has been a victim of trafficking to call police on 101. The MPS and our partners are committed to providing quality support to trafficking victims. "
The charges follow arrests made on May 14 last year following a police investigation which included searches of 13 addresses including Imperial Wharf and Brompton Park Crescent in Fulham's Seagrave Road close to Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground.
During the raids, nine East European women, believed to have been forced into prostitution, were rescued and taken to a care centre to receive the support they needed.
This was the first police operation carried out under the European Communities Against Trafficking (ECAT) Project. ECAT is a two-year programme launched in February this year and part-funded by a European Commission grant, which sees the MPS work with councils and charitable organisations to tackle trafficking, assist victims and raise awareness of the issue.
You can read more about the investigation and arrests here
June 12, 2014
