Three members of organised crime group sentenced for human trafficking and rape

An organised crime group who trafficked women from Eastern Europe to exploit as sex workers across the South West and beyond have been sentenced following a prosecution by the South West Complex Casework Unit.

The group’s ringleader, Maciej Kozlowski, 52, of Gloucester, was also convicted of raping a woman who the group later exploited at their network of brothels.

Prosecutors used evidence to show that Kozlowski, who went under various aliases, led the trafficking operation with Piotr Lebek, 57, of Gloucester, as his main accomplice.

Lebek would collect victims from airports, move them between brothels and pick up cash they had been paid – reporting back to Kozlowski on their takings. In one text to Kozlowski, Lebek said he was “off to the whore place”.

Agata Jankowska, 37, of Gloucester, booked victims’ flights into the UK and controlled some of the phones used to book their appointments. A second woman, Lidia Grzybowska, 45, of East Lothian, pleaded guilty to controlling other phones used to make bookings and will be sentenced at a later date.

The group pleaded guilty to trafficking at least 20 women over two years, mainly from Poland, to work in brothels at flats in Gloucester, Cheltenham, Swindon, Bridgwater, Kettering, Coventry, Nottingham, Worcester and Wales. One woman’s profile had been active in as many as seven different towns.

Following joint work with SWROCU, prosecutors built a compelling case using complex strands of evidence to help secure these convictions.

This included records of the group’s movements between airports and brothels; thousands of messages arranging appointments; photos taken for online adverts; messages reporting cash collected from victims; and even evidence of shopping trips for bedding, wet wipes, condoms and mobile phone top-ups.

Andrew Pritchard, Specialist Prosecutor for CPS South West’s Complex Case Unit, said: “Kozlowski, Lebek and Jankowska were members of a well organised and motivated group who chose to make money off women made vulnerable by their work in the sex trade.

“Victims were treated like a commodity to be exploited and moved around the country to different brothels simply to maximise their profitability.

“At trial, it was proved that Kozlowski, the leader of the group, was prepared to rape one of the victims he had targeted. The seriousness of these defendants’ criminal actions is reflected in the sentences passed by the court today.”

Det Supt Charlotte Tucker, who led the SWROCU investigation, said: “This group was making huge amounts of money by trafficking women into and around the country to exploit like commodities, profiting from the risks these vulnerable victims took and the ‘work’ they endured.

“They showed total contempt for the women they exploited, with Kozlowski even raping one victim in a bid to recruit her to work for his group. She, and other victims, have described the long-term harm they have suffered.

“I hope the sentences handed down bring her and the other women some closure, give other victims confidence that we will do all we can to investigate and bring such offenders to justice, and show the public that we all must do more to give such victims a voice. These women were being put to work in flats and houses in our communities – please learn to spot the signs and report any suspicions.”