COURT: Three men GUILTY of rape and trafficking

Three men have been found guilty of raping two young women who were trafficked into Lancashire and forced to work as prostitutes.
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Feb 2016, 06:19 BST
Updated 3rd Feb 2016, 11:44 BST
Marius Petre, 26 (15/02/89), of Longworth Street, Preston, was found guilty of intentionally arranging/ facilitating entry to the UK of a person with a view to their sexual exploitation, causing/ inciting prostitution for financial gain and two counts of rape.Marius Petre, 26 (15/02/89), of Longworth Street, Preston, was found guilty of intentionally arranging/ facilitating entry to the UK of a person with a view to their sexual exploitation, causing/ inciting prostitution for financial gain and two counts of rape.
Marius Petre, 26 (15/02/89), of Longworth Street, Preston, was found guilty of intentionally arranging/ facilitating entry to the UK of a person with a view to their sexual exploitation, causing/ inciting prostitution for financial gain and two counts of rape.

The two childhood friends, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, were tricked into thinking two of the men were their boyfriends.

But after agreeing to leave Romania last summer to come to Preston in the belief they would be given jobs as hotel maids, the men turned on them, along with a third man who was running a brothel.

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The 18-year-olds were raped and beaten, and forced to work in the house on Longworth Street, Preston.

Ionut Ion, 35 (16/04/80), of Longworth Street, Preston, was found guilty of keeping/ managing a brothel used for prostitution and two counts of rape.Ionut Ion, 35 (16/04/80), of Longworth Street, Preston, was found guilty of keeping/ managing a brothel used for prostitution and two counts of rape.
Ionut Ion, 35 (16/04/80), of Longworth Street, Preston, was found guilty of keeping/ managing a brothel used for prostitution and two counts of rape.

Police were alerted two weeks after their arrival by concerned members of public.

After less than half a day of deliberations jurors at Preston Crown Court returned guilty verdicts on all three defendants yesterday.

Marius Petre, 26, of Longworth Street, Preston, and Adrian Matei, 34, of the same address, were convicted of intentionally arranging or facilitating entry to the UK of a person with a view to their sexual exploitation and causing/ inciting prostitution for financial gain. Both were found guilty of two counts of rape each.

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Ionut Ion, 35, also of Longworth Street, Preston, was found guilty of keeping or managing a brothel used for prostitution and of two counts of rape.

Adrian Matei, 34 (09/09/81), of Longworth Street, Preston, was found guilty of intentionally arranging/ facilitating entry to the UK of a person with a view to their sexual exploitation, causing/ inciting prostitution for financial gain and two counts of rape.Adrian Matei, 34 (09/09/81), of Longworth Street, Preston, was found guilty of intentionally arranging/ facilitating entry to the UK of a person with a view to their sexual exploitation, causing/ inciting prostitution for financial gain and two counts of rape.
Adrian Matei, 34 (09/09/81), of Longworth Street, Preston, was found guilty of intentionally arranging/ facilitating entry to the UK of a person with a view to their sexual exploitation, causing/ inciting prostitution for financial gain and two counts of rape.

Det Insp Jane Webb, of Preston police, said: “The conviction shows the girls voices have been heard. They are thankful for being rescued from the evil men that subjected them to such abhorrent crimes.”

The men will be sentenced on March 15.

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Ionut Ion, 35 (16/04/80), of Longworth Street, Preston, was found guilty of keeping/ managing a brothel used for prostitution and two counts of rape.Ionut Ion, 35 (16/04/80), of Longworth Street, Preston, was found guilty of keeping/ managing a brothel used for prostitution and two counts of rape.
Ionut Ion, 35 (16/04/80), of Longworth Street, Preston, was found guilty of keeping/ managing a brothel used for prostitution and two counts of rape.

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