Suspended term for sex trafficker

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7736204.stm

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A man who admitted sex trafficking and controlling prostitution in Belfast has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Mark Russell, 38, from Circular Road in Dromore, County Down, was convicted on charges connected to a police raid on a brothel earlier this year.

Russell collected women who arrived in Northern Ireland by ferry from Scotland and took them to Belfast.

He was arrested after police discovered four women working as prostitutes at an apartment in Ardmore Court, Belfast.

The prostitutes, all believed to be Asian, said they gave half their money to another woman who ran the racket.

Belfast Magistrates Court was told documents containing the names of customers and accounts were also seized during the swoop.

Police were alerted to Russell after finding a large unopened box of condoms marked with his address in Dromore.

Russell, who was said to have been paid £250 for his involvement, also admitted placing an advert offering women's services, the court heard.

A defence lawyer claimed Russell was a facilitator, rather than one of those running the brothel.

The lawyer also told the court that the woman in charge of the prostitution racket had already been jailed for her role.

Imposing a three month prison sentence for each offence of trafficking for sexual exploitation and controlling prostitution, District Judge Noel Dunlop said the punishments would be suspended for two years.