{"id":29930,"date":"2025-10-28T06:30:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-28T10:30:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/?p=29930"},"modified":"2025-10-28T06:30:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T10:30:07","slug":"grooming-gang-jailed-for-raping-10-women","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/2025\/10\/28\/grooming-gang-jailed-for-raping-10-women\/","title":{"rendered":"Grooming gang jailed for raping 10 women"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"ssrcss-suhx0k-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1o5p6v2-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\"><b class=\"ssrcss-1xjjfut-BoldText e5tfeyi3\">A Romanian grooming gang led by a &#8220;winking, smirking pimp&#8221; have been jailed for raping and sexually abusing 10 women in flats across Dundee.<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The four men and one woman plied their victims &#8211; aged between 16 and 30 &#8211; with drugs at various properties between 2021 and 2022.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Ringleader Marian Cumpanasoiu, 38, along with Remus Stan, 35, Cristian Urlateanu, 41, Catalin Dobre, 45, and Alexandra Bugonea, 35, were previously convicted of 30 charges at the High Court in Glasgow.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Cumpanasoiu was sentenced to 24 years, Urlateanu to 20 years, Stan to 12 years, Dobre to 10 years and Bugonea to eight years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-bq6git-ComponentWrapper ep2nwvo2\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1j1rzn0-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<ul class=\"ssrcss-1q9m0bv-Stack e1y4nx260\" role=\"list\">\n<li class=\"ssrcss-qzx51b-LinkItem e3eyuya1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1j1rzn0-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1ww1l1o-LinkHeadline e3eyuya4\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/c8xj559g571o\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span aria-hidden=\"false\">Grooming gang convicted of raping women in Dundee<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ssrcss-qzx51b-LinkItem e3eyuya1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1j1rzn0-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1ww1l1o-LinkHeadline e3eyuya4\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/cvgv5vdqzdko\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span aria-hidden=\"false\">Met Police reviewing 9,000 grooming cases<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-suhx0k-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1o5p6v2-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Judge Lord Scott said that a number of the group &#8220;deflected and minimised&#8221; their offending against vulnerable victims.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">He added: &#8220;By offering them an unending supply of mostly free crack cocaine you exacerbated their vulnerabilities and proceeded to exploit them for your own sexual gratification and in some cases for financial gain.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;No doubt you assumed rightly for some time that the drug-related lifestyles of the women meant that you were not reported or detected.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The judge said that the gang used the vulnerability of the women &#8220;to try to attack their credibility&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Lord Scott continued: &#8220;It may be you thought that no-one cared for your victims meaning you could do whatever you wanted to them without consequence. If so, events have proved you wrong.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;Each of the women found the strength to give evidence despite their difficulties and have taken steps to move on from that stage in their lives.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-10wcwg8-ComponentWrapper-FullWidthWrapper ep2nwvo1\" data-component=\"image-block\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-12gl1u2-StyledFigure e34k3c22\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-d1wz9f-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/8f93\/live\/360eec50-b33d-11f0-ba75-093eca1ac29b.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/8f93\/live\/360eec50-b33d-11f0-ba75-093eca1ac29b.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/8f93\/live\/360eec50-b33d-11f0-ba75-093eca1ac29b.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/8f93\/live\/360eec50-b33d-11f0-ba75-093eca1ac29b.jpg.webp 624w\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"ssrcss-11yxrdo-Image edrdn950\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/688\/cpsprodpb\/8f93\/live\/360eec50-b33d-11f0-ba75-093eca1ac29b.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/8f93\/live\/360eec50-b33d-11f0-ba75-093eca1ac29b.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/8f93\/live\/360eec50-b33d-11f0-ba75-093eca1ac29b.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/8f93\/live\/360eec50-b33d-11f0-ba75-093eca1ac29b.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/8f93\/live\/360eec50-b33d-11f0-ba75-093eca1ac29b.jpg 624w\" alt=\"A bed inside the brothel on Bright Street, Dundee. The mattress and divan is bard and there is a leopard print foot rest behind the door. The beige carpet is heavily stained.\" width=\"688\" height=\"460\" \/><\/picture><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"ssrcss-bm8gf8-StyledFigureCaption ehbdhz00\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1ml6m0y-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">A bed inside the brothel on Bright Street, Dundee (Image: <span class=\"ssrcss-2z7a81-StyledFigureCopyright e34k3c20\" role=\"text\">Crown Office)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-suhx0k-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1o5p6v2-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The judge said it would be a matter for the Home Office but it was likely the gang would be deported on completion of their sentences.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Three gang members &#8211; Urlateanu, Dobre and Bugonea &#8211; fled the country but were traced and extradited back to Scotland from Belgium and the Czech Republic for their trial last December.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Jurors in the six-week trial heard harrowing testimony about how the gang preyed on the women, most of whom were already troubled by personal issues.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Cumpanasoiu was found guilty of 10 charges of rape, while Urlateanu was convicted of six rapes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Cumpanasoiu was also convicted of a charge under the Human Trafficking Act, by forcing a woman into prostitution, and two charges of brothel keeping.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Stan was found guilty of four rapes while Dobre was found guilty of two rapes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Alexandra Bugonea was convicted of one rape and illegal sexual activity with another.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-suhx0k-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1o5p6v2-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Police Scotland uncovered the gang&#8217;s activities during an operation focusing on the trafficking of woman to Dundee from eastern Europe to work as prostitutes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">But officers discovered vulnerable local women were also being groomed with gifts and drugs, including crack cocaine.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Some members of the gang worked in legitimate jobs as food delivery drivers, but were also grooming a succession of young women from the local area.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The women were forced to have sex with the gang, and encouraged to recruit friends to come to the properties with the promise of drugs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Victims were plied with whisky and crack cocaine as well as being made to take part in &#8220;sex games&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The gang was led by Cumpanasoiu, who was described as a &#8220;winking, smirking pimp&#8221; who behaved with a &#8220;predatory nature&#8221; towards women.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Following the sentencing, the Crown Office released mobile phone footage of Cumpanasoiu in his car singing along to the 50 Cent song P.I.M.P.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-10wcwg8-ComponentWrapper-FullWidthWrapper ep2nwvo1\" data-component=\"image-block\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-12gl1u2-StyledFigure e34k3c22\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-sft8a2-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/3cb8\/live\/402c8130-b341-11f0-9ae5-dfa34b074568.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/3cb8\/live\/402c8130-b341-11f0-9ae5-dfa34b074568.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/3cb8\/live\/402c8130-b341-11f0-9ae5-dfa34b074568.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/3cb8\/live\/402c8130-b341-11f0-9ae5-dfa34b074568.jpg.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/3cb8\/live\/402c8130-b341-11f0-9ae5-dfa34b074568.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/3cb8\/live\/402c8130-b341-11f0-9ae5-dfa34b074568.jpg.webp 976w\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"ssrcss-11yxrdo-Image edrdn950\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/1600\/cpsprodpb\/3cb8\/live\/402c8130-b341-11f0-9ae5-dfa34b074568.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/3cb8\/live\/402c8130-b341-11f0-9ae5-dfa34b074568.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/3cb8\/live\/402c8130-b341-11f0-9ae5-dfa34b074568.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/3cb8\/live\/402c8130-b341-11f0-9ae5-dfa34b074568.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/3cb8\/live\/402c8130-b341-11f0-9ae5-dfa34b074568.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/3cb8\/live\/402c8130-b341-11f0-9ae5-dfa34b074568.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/3cb8\/live\/402c8130-b341-11f0-9ae5-dfa34b074568.jpg 976w\" alt=\"A black knife with a white handle in clear plastic box\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" \/><\/picture><\/span>A knife which belonged to Marian Cumpanasoiu (Image: <span class=\"ssrcss-2z7a81-StyledFigureCopyright e34k3c20\" role=\"text\">Crown Office)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-suhx0k-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1o5p6v2-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">One of the victims was forced into prostitution after Cumpanasoiu and Stan set up a profile of her on a website and drove her to meet men to have sex with.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">This victim was said to have been sold a &#8220;pipe dream&#8221; of how she could make &#8220;lots of money&#8221; from selling her body.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">But Cumpanasoiu was said to be angry at one stage at her not earning enough.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">A video was found on his phone recording the victim climbing a tree.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Cumpanasoiu was said to have threatened: &#8220;Because you do not make money, you stay all day in the tree.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">He and Stan also raped the woman.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-10wcwg8-ComponentWrapper-FullWidthWrapper ep2nwvo1\" data-component=\"image-block\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-12gl1u2-StyledFigure e34k3c22\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-5qhnvt-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/324a\/live\/1ef56780-b345-11f0-9ae5-dfa34b074568.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/324a\/live\/1ef56780-b345-11f0-9ae5-dfa34b074568.jpg.webp 320w\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"ssrcss-11yxrdo-Image edrdn950\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/455\/cpsprodpb\/324a\/live\/1ef56780-b345-11f0-9ae5-dfa34b074568.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/324a\/live\/1ef56780-b345-11f0-9ae5-dfa34b074568.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/324a\/live\/1ef56780-b345-11f0-9ae5-dfa34b074568.jpg 320w\" alt=\"Tattered cushions on a dark armchair inside the dingy flat on Bright Street, Dundee. Debris, including a large bottle of Fanta, can be seen on the heavily stained carpet.\" width=\"455\" height=\"455\" \/><\/picture><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"ssrcss-bm8gf8-StyledFigureCaption ehbdhz00\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1ml6m0y-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Conditions were grim inside the flat on Bright Street (Image: Crown Office)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-suhx0k-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1o5p6v2-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Cumpanasoiu was described by one victim as &#8220;absolutely relentless&#8221; and another was left feeling &#8220;disgusted&#8221; by him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Cumpanasoiu claimed he only gave another of the young women crack cocaine to be &#8220;polite&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Alexandra Bugonea, who was a prostitute in Dundee, admitted having &#8220;sex parties&#8221; at her flat and described them as having a &#8220;fun atmosphere&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">But one victim described seeing Bugonea semi-naked and teaming up with her then-boyfriend Cristian Urlateanu to rape.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Quizzed about sexually assaulting any of the victims, Bugonea said: &#8220;I am a woman &#8211; why would I have a plan to rape her?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">She also denied women only visited due to their drug issues, claiming she believed they were &#8220;friends&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">There was also testimony of how Urlateanu, Stan and Dobre raped another woman.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-suhx0k-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1o5p6v2-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Lord Scott said Cumpanasoiu had &#8220;lied, denied and deflected&#8221; and &#8220;shown no meaningful insight or remorse&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The court heard he was key to the identification, targeting and recruitment of women for sexual exploitation and supplied them with crack cocaine.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The judge also said Cumpanasoiu presented a &#8220;high threat of harm to women&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">His 24-year sentence will be split between a 20-year custodial term and a four-year extension.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Urlateanu&#8217;s sentence was also divided between an 18-year custodial term and a two-year extension.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Meanwhile, Bugonea wept in the dock after she was jailed for eight years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The jury heard she had difficult childhood experiences and may too have been exploited by others.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">But the court heard her involvement, whether deliberate or not, may have helped to lure some of the victims and assure them that they would be safe.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Non-harassment orders were granted which prohibit the group from contacting their victims for an indefinite period.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">They were also put on the sex offenders register.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Stan was separately given a five-year trafficking exploitation order.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-10wcwg8-ComponentWrapper-FullWidthWrapper ep2nwvo1\" data-component=\"image-block\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-12gl1u2-StyledFigure e34k3c22\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-sft8a2-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/85b5\/live\/207afd70-b342-11f0-b2a1-6f537f66f9aa.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/85b5\/live\/207afd70-b342-11f0-b2a1-6f537f66f9aa.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/85b5\/live\/207afd70-b342-11f0-b2a1-6f537f66f9aa.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/85b5\/live\/207afd70-b342-11f0-b2a1-6f537f66f9aa.jpg.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/85b5\/live\/207afd70-b342-11f0-b2a1-6f537f66f9aa.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/85b5\/live\/207afd70-b342-11f0-b2a1-6f537f66f9aa.jpg.webp 976w\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"ssrcss-11yxrdo-Image edrdn950\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/1920\/cpsprodpb\/85b5\/live\/207afd70-b342-11f0-b2a1-6f537f66f9aa.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/85b5\/live\/207afd70-b342-11f0-b2a1-6f537f66f9aa.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/85b5\/live\/207afd70-b342-11f0-b2a1-6f537f66f9aa.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/85b5\/live\/207afd70-b342-11f0-b2a1-6f537f66f9aa.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/85b5\/live\/207afd70-b342-11f0-b2a1-6f537f66f9aa.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/85b5\/live\/207afd70-b342-11f0-b2a1-6f537f66f9aa.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/85b5\/live\/207afd70-b342-11f0-b2a1-6f537f66f9aa.jpg 976w\" alt=\"Head and shoulders shot of a man with short dark hair staring directly at the camera with serious expression. He is wearing a black suit jacket, white shirt and dark red tie.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" \/><\/picture><\/span><\/div>\n<p>DI Scott Carswell led the investigation into the gang<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-suhx0k-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1o5p6v2-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Fiona Kirkby, procurator fiscal for high court sexual offences, said: &#8220;This gang ruthlessly exploited vulnerable women for their own gain, without any regard for the suffering and trauma they caused.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;These were truly reprehensible crimes, and the victims must be commended for their courage in speaking out.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Det Ch Insp Scott Carswell thanked the force&#8217;s partners who supported the victims throughout the investigation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">He also urged people to contact officers directly if they have any concerns.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Det Ch Insp Carswell added: &#8220;Victims are often vulnerable, they may be trapped with limited freedom or options, and sometimes they may not realise that they are in fact victims.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;That call can be the first step in freeing someone from slavery and exploitation.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/cvg8791y4xxo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\">A Romanian grooming gang led by a &#8220;winking, smirking pimp&#8221; have been jailed for raping and sexually abusing 10 women in flats across Dundee. The four men and one woman plied their victims &#8211; aged <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/2025\/10\/28\/grooming-gang-jailed-for-raping-10-women\/\" title=\"Grooming gang jailed for raping 10 women\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29931,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2,4],"tags":[4796,11743,11745,7670,9537,2788,3162,1109,5880,2122,4292,11744,7596,20,5180,1077,3490],"class_list":{"0":"post-29930","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"category-uk","9":"tag-belgium","10":"tag-brothel-keeping","11":"tag-crack-cocaine","12":"tag-crown-office","13":"tag-czech-republic","14":"tag-deportation","15":"tag-dundee","16":"tag-extradited","17":"tag-glasgow-high-court","18":"tag-grooming","19":"tag-home-office","20":"tag-illegal-sexual-activity","21":"tag-police-scotland","22":"tag-rape","23":"tag-romania","24":"tag-scotland","25":"tag-sexual-exploitation","26":"pmpro-has-access"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29930","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29930"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29930\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29932,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29930\/revisions\/29932"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29931"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29930"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29930"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29930"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}