Sandwell couple jailed for sexual exploitation and modern slavery offences after one victim found with 'bones protruding from skin'

Lugia Cucu and Costela Soare, both of Smethwick, Sandwell, have both been jailed after pleading guilty to a range of prostitution, modern-day slavery, and abuse charges at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

The couple were arrested in March 2023 after West Midlands Police acted on intelligence showing that women were being advertised online for the purpose of prostitution.

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An in-depth three-year investigation was launched into the actions of the couple, showing that women were sexually exploited and subjected to abuse and harm. 

Officers from the force's Major Crime Team found that 14 women had been victims of the couple's crimes from January 2018 until March 2023, with the team also discovering that one of the victims had been trafficked into the UK in 2015, before being transported to various locations across the country. 

As well as being subjected to a range of physical and verbal abuse, she was also introduced to drug abuse, resulting in her gaining large drug debts, being controlled financially, and being forced to work up to 20 hours a day.

As well as being coercively controlled, she was also refused access to medical help. 

One of the couple's victims was left so severely malnourished after not having enough money to buy food that her bones could be seen protruding from her skin.

The force also found that the pair were estimated to have gained at least £734,400 due to the sexual exploitation of women and men across the country.

Cucu, aged 46, was charged with arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation and controlling prostitution for gain. 

Appearing at Wolverhampton Crown Court on November 21 after pleading guilty, he was jailed for nine years and seven months. 

Soare, aged 37, was charged with controlling prostitution for gain and entered a guilty plea. 

She was jailed for three years and two months. 

Leading the investigation, Detective Constable Mahadi Hasan, from the Major Crime Team, said: "We’ve worked hard to bring these charges against both Cucu and Soare. 

“It’s been a very in-depth and thorough investigation over the course of three years to comb through evidence to piece together the couple’s crimes and the abuse their victims went through.

“We’ve supported and safeguarded the victims, and I’m glad that both Cucu and Soare have now been put behind bars for their crimes."