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07/06/2012
Madam Threatened NI Prostitutes With Murder
A madam threatened prostitutes with violence and murder, Belfast Crown Court was told yesterday.
Rong Chen, 35, a one-time prostitute, lured women to Northern Ireland with promises of legitimate jobs.
They were then forced to work in brothels in Belfast, Newry and Londonderry.
If they told Chen they wanted to leave, she threatened that she knew police who would arrest them, that her boyfriend was part of a gang, or even that she would murder them.
The women, aged between 45 and 56, were rarely able to go out.
Chen, who took in £282,107 in 18 months, paid the women "smaller amounts" than the weekly £220 advertised in Chinese newspapers in London.
The mother-of-two is originally Chinese but has an address at Crestwood Avenue, Kidderminster, Worcestershire.
She was arrested following co-operation between the PSNI and English police and pleaded guilty to UK trafficking, entering an arrangement to acquire criminal property, and two counts of controlling prostitution for gain.
Her husband Jason Owen Hinton, 44, of the same address, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the control of prostitution.
The arrests came after staff at the Stenaline terminal became concerned about the welfare of two Chinese women.
They were with Simon Dempsey (42) from East Street in Newtownards, who later pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the control of prostitution and entering into an arrangement to acquire criminal property.
Police rescued a further two women in raids on five brothels.
All three defendants were released on bail pending sentencing.
(NE)
Rong Chen, 35, a one-time prostitute, lured women to Northern Ireland with promises of legitimate jobs.
They were then forced to work in brothels in Belfast, Newry and Londonderry.
If they told Chen they wanted to leave, she threatened that she knew police who would arrest them, that her boyfriend was part of a gang, or even that she would murder them.
The women, aged between 45 and 56, were rarely able to go out.
Chen, who took in £282,107 in 18 months, paid the women "smaller amounts" than the weekly £220 advertised in Chinese newspapers in London.
The mother-of-two is originally Chinese but has an address at Crestwood Avenue, Kidderminster, Worcestershire.
She was arrested following co-operation between the PSNI and English police and pleaded guilty to UK trafficking, entering an arrangement to acquire criminal property, and two counts of controlling prostitution for gain.
Her husband Jason Owen Hinton, 44, of the same address, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the control of prostitution.
The arrests came after staff at the Stenaline terminal became concerned about the welfare of two Chinese women.
They were with Simon Dempsey (42) from East Street in Newtownards, who later pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the control of prostitution and entering into an arrangement to acquire criminal property.
Police rescued a further two women in raids on five brothels.
All three defendants were released on bail pending sentencing.
(NE)
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