The Romanian woman who trafficked and exploited a vulnerable 22-year-old woman to work as a prostitute in Piccadilly, has been jailed for three years.
Margit Biddel of Upper Chorlton Road, Old Trafford, was jailed at Manchester Crown Court, Minshull Street, following an investigation by the Trafford Organised Crime Unit.
She had been found guilty at an earlier hearing of arranging or facilitating the travel of another person with a view to exploitation under section 2 of the Modern Slavery Act, Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation under section 59a of the Sexual offences Act 200
After almost six months of suffering at the hands of Biddel, the victim managed to get a message to her friend in Hungary.
The victim had been encouraged to travel to the UK and once in the country Biddel soon used psychological aggression to intimidate and control the victim, and cut off her ties with her family and friends. Finding herself completely isolated from anyone she knew, unable to speak English and in fear that she or her family may be harmed the victim felt she had no choice but to work for Biddel.
Biddel arranged her transport to the Piccadilly area of Manchester each night where she suffered terrifying ordeals such as being attacked and thrown out of a car, whilst she worked as a prostitute earning up to £400 a night, most of which was taken off her by Biddel.
On 19 August 2015 the police in Hungary were alerted and via Interpol they contacted Greater Manchester Police. Officers quickly attended Biddel’s address in Old Trafford to safeguard the victim and remove her from harm, and arrested Biddel.
Detective Sergeant Chris Potter said: “Biddel had exploited her vulnerability so as to isolate her and cut her off from any family or friend ties, and had her constantly watched. Sometimes she kept her locked away to prevent her escape, all for her own financial gain.
“I am really pleased to say that now, after superb work by our partner agencies such as the UK and Hungarian Human Trafficking Centres, the victim has been safely repatriated with family and friends.”
Biddel was also given a Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order with a number of conditions to protect the public and prevent her from engaging in this type of criminality indefinitely.
