Three Fulham Women in Court over Alleged Trafficking
Accused of bringing girls into the UK to be used for sex
Three women living in two of Fulham's most upmarket developments, Brompton Park Cresent and Imperial Wharf are among five people who appeared in custody at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday, 16 May.
The women are:
Tatiana Shmyrova, 44 of Brompton Park Crescent, who was charged with conspiracy to traffic persons into the United Kingdom for sexual exploitation and conspiracy to control prostitution for gain. She was also charged under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Irina Bespalova, 31 also of Brompton Park Crescent who was charged with conspiracy to control prostitution for gain. She was also charged under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Natalia Cannon, 33 of Harbour Reach, The Boulevard, Imperial Wharf who was charged with conspiracy to traffic persons into the United Kingdom for sexual exploitation and conspiracy to control prostitution for gain. She was also charged under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
They appeared on court along with two men:
Richard Gorecki, 36 of Caspian Walk, E16, charged with conspiracy to control prostitution for gain. He was also charged under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Michael Poole, 27 of Hazelwood Lane N13, charged with conspiracy to control prostitution for gain. He was also charged under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
In court it was claimed that they were part of a Fulham prostitution racket which involved trafficking girls into the UK to be used for sex.
Natalia Cannon and Tatiana Shmyrova brought girls to the capital to work in Chelsea and Kensington, it is claimed. Shmyrova is accused of being the 'Madam' of the organisation and the court was told that she would arrange through Cannon and Gorecki, for the girls to be picked up from the airport and taken to clients in brothels.
The court appearance follow arrests made last Tuesday after police searched 13 addresses including Imperial Wharf and Brompton Park Crescent in Fulham's Seagrave Road, close to Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground.
The women are suspected to be part of a gang with links with the Russian mafia.
Police say at around 7am on Tuesday, detectives from the MPS Human Trafficking and Prostitution Unit, assisted by Safer Neighbourhoods and Home Office immigration officers conducted search warrants at 13 addresses.
They included a block of nine flats, reportedly in Warwick Road, believed to have been run as a brothel by the gang. Officers seized around £60,000 cash under the Proceeds of Crime Act and searches are ongoing.
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 need.
It is believed the gang convinced women in Eastern Europe that they would be given administrative jobs in the UK. However, once brought into the country they were forced to work as prostitutes at addresses in Kensington and Chelsea.
Two other people arrested at the same time, a 30 year-old woman and a 51 year-old man have been bailed to return pending further enquiries.
This is 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.
DI Kevin Hyland of the MPS Human Trafficking and Prostitution Unit, said: "Today we have targeted an organised group of criminals who have been profiting from the abuse of scores of women.
"This operation is in part a result of victims having the courage to come forward about the abuse they are suffering. I urge other victims of trafficking to phone our hotline where we have translators and specially trained staff awaiting their call. "
Victims of trafficking and prostitution are urged to call the MPS's 24-hour helpline, open seven days a week, on 0800 7832589.
May 16, 2013
