Golders Green woman jailed for role in prostitution gang

A Golders Green woman involved in a gang which ‘callously’ trafficked prostitutes has been jailed for three years.

Janina Nuta, of Highfield Avenue, was found guilty of controlling prostitution for gain after being arrested with 105 mobile phones used as part of a four-person operation making £15,000 a month by selling women for sex.

The 39-year-old was also sentenced for arranging or facilitating the travel of another person with view to exploitation and concealing/disguising/transferring/removing criminal property at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday.

Along with fellow Romanians Aliona Pislaru, 39 and Vlad Harzoparu, 30 – both of Sussex Gardens – and Ilie Melinte, 34, of Seymour Place, she was prosecuted under the Modern Slavery Act.

Det Insp Stephen Kiely, from the Met’s Slavery and Kidnap unit, said: “The victims in this case were callously manipulated and exploited by this trafficking network.

“I hope that the sentences handed down today bring them a measure of closure and comfort as they go about rebuilding their lives.”

He added: “This investigation highlights the commitment to ending the trafficking and exploitation of vulnerable people.”

The court also heard how the gang, two of whose addresses were first searched in April, had officially registered a company and submitted accounts to HMRC.

But financial records showed the victims of the trafficking were given very little of the money they were forced to earn.