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'Juju' sex trafficker Lizzy Idahosa jailed for eight years | 'Juju' sex trafficker Lizzy Idahosa jailed for eight years |
(35 minutes later) | |
A woman who was found guilty of trafficking two women from Nigeria to the UK to work in the sex trade has been jailed for eight years. | A woman who was found guilty of trafficking two women from Nigeria to the UK to work in the sex trade has been jailed for eight years. |
Lizzy Idahosa, 24, arranged for the women to be put through a ritualistic "juju" ceremony in Nigeria to make them afraid of disobeying her. | Lizzy Idahosa, 24, arranged for the women to be put through a ritualistic "juju" ceremony in Nigeria to make them afraid of disobeying her. |
The judge at Cardiff Crown Court said she she kept them in "a kind of hell". | The judge at Cardiff Crown Court said she she kept them in "a kind of hell". |
Her partner Jackson Omoruyi, 41, found guilty of money laundering offences, was jailed for two years. | Her partner Jackson Omoruyi, 41, found guilty of money laundering offences, was jailed for two years. |
Idahosa - who is heavily pregnant with Omoruyi's baby, and already has a young child with him - was found guilty of trafficking women to and around the UK after a trial last month. | Idahosa - who is heavily pregnant with Omoruyi's baby, and already has a young child with him - was found guilty of trafficking women to and around the UK after a trial last month. |
A jury also found her guilty of inciting prostitution and money laundering. | A jury also found her guilty of inciting prostitution and money laundering. |
Infertility fears | Infertility fears |
During the trial, the jury heard the trafficked women worked in brothels to repay Idahosa £50,000 for travel from Nigeria and false documents. | During the trial, the jury heard the trafficked women worked in brothels to repay Idahosa £50,000 for travel from Nigeria and false documents. |
Both victims said that before travelling to London on the promise of a better life, they had been subjected to 'juju' rituals in which they ate snails and snakes, had their hair shaved, drank dirty water and were cut with a razor. | Both victims said that before travelling to London on the promise of a better life, they had been subjected to 'juju' rituals in which they ate snails and snakes, had their hair shaved, drank dirty water and were cut with a razor. |
The victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said the rituals - sometimes known as voodoo or magic - left them fearing illness, madness, infertility and death. | The victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said the rituals - sometimes known as voodoo or magic - left them fearing illness, madness, infertility and death. |
Once in the UK, they were moved around a number of brothels in Croydon, Stevenage, Brighton, Swansea and Cardiff and had sex with up to seven or eight men a day to pay off their "debts". | Once in the UK, they were moved around a number of brothels in Croydon, Stevenage, Brighton, Swansea and Cardiff and had sex with up to seven or eight men a day to pay off their "debts". |
Home Office officials and police eventually found one of the women working at a brothel in Cardiff in June 2013, and they quickly discovered she was a victim of trafficking. | Home Office officials and police eventually found one of the women working at a brothel in Cardiff in June 2013, and they quickly discovered she was a victim of trafficking. |
The other woman was later persuaded to talk about her experiences. | The other woman was later persuaded to talk about her experiences. |
Officers from the Home Office criminal investigation team arrested Idahosa and Omoruyi in a property in Lewisham, south London, in April this year. | Officers from the Home Office criminal investigation team arrested Idahosa and Omoruyi in a property in Lewisham, south London, in April this year. |
'Mental terror' | 'Mental terror' |
As he sentenced Idahosa, Judge Tom Crowther QC told her: "You were the prime mover in this scheme. | As he sentenced Idahosa, Judge Tom Crowther QC told her: "You were the prime mover in this scheme. |
"You targeted vulnerable young women and kept them in a kind of hell. | "You targeted vulnerable young women and kept them in a kind of hell. |
"You forced them to pay an arbitrary debt with their bodies day in day out. And you made significant sums from them." | "You forced them to pay an arbitrary debt with their bodies day in day out. And you made significant sums from them." |
In total, Idahosa was given sentences of eight years, five years, seven years and two and a half years for her crimes - all to run concurrently. | In total, Idahosa was given sentences of eight years, five years, seven years and two and a half years for her crimes - all to run concurrently. |
Omoruyi was sentenced to two years and 18 months, also to run concurrently. | Omoruyi was sentenced to two years and 18 months, also to run concurrently. |
Judge Crowther said both defendants will serve half their jail sentences. | Judge Crowther said both defendants will serve half their jail sentences. |
'Victims' resolve' | 'Victims' resolve' |
Speaking after the court case, Nicola Rees, senior crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service Wales complex casework unit, said the sentencing "brings to a close a disturbing case involving the exploitation of two vulnerable victims". | Speaking after the court case, Nicola Rees, senior crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service Wales complex casework unit, said the sentencing "brings to a close a disturbing case involving the exploitation of two vulnerable victims". |
"We know that traffickers specifically target those in positions of vulnerability," she said. | "We know that traffickers specifically target those in positions of vulnerability," she said. |
"I applaud the resolve of the two victims in this case, who were able to take active steps to break free from the abusive situation they were in." | "I applaud the resolve of the two victims in this case, who were able to take active steps to break free from the abusive situation they were in." |