Scotland: Grooming Gang Jailed for Raping 10 Women

A gang of Romanians who exploited vulnerable women after plying them with drugs at brothels in Dundee have been jailed.

Mircea Marian Cumpanasoiu, Cristian Urlateanu, Remus Stan, Catalin Dobre and Alexandra Bugonea were found guilty in January this year of a range of offences including rape following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

The gang targeted young vulnerable women by offering them a mostly-free supply of crack cocaine and used this to blackmail them into sex for their own gratification and financial gain.

One of the victims, a woman trafficked into prostitution, was threatened with being made to stay up a tree because she was not earning enough.

The group were sentenced when they returned to the High Court in Glasgow on Monday, the Crown Office said.

Deportation likely after sentence completion

The revelations will lead to fresh pressure on John Swinney to have a Scottish inquiry into grooming gangs after the First Minister rejected the idea in September.

The UK Government-led inquiry into the problem will currently only focus on England and Wales. Critics of the SNP say it should be extended to Scotland.

The trial, involving 10 victims, lasted six weeks and came after a police investigation launched in 2021 to target suspected human traffickers operating in the Tayside area.

Three members of the gang – Urlateanu, Dobre and Bugonea – fled the country but were traced and extradited back to Scotland from Belgium and the Czech Republic for their trial last December.

Judge Lord Scott said it was likely the gang would be deported on completion of their sentences but emphasised this would be a matter for the Home Office.

Ring-leader Cumpanasoiu, described in court as a “smirking, winking pimp”, was given an extended sentence comprising 20 years in custody and four years of supervision upon release.

Urlateanu, 41, was sentenced to 18 years in custody followed by a two-year extension period of supervision.

Stan was jailed for 12 years, Dobre for 10 years and Bugonea for eight years. Stan will also be subject to a trafficking and exploitation prevention order for a period of five years after his release from prison.

Judge Lord Young said: “Over a 15-month period each of you participated in the serious sexual abuse and exploitation of vulnerable and mostly young women in the Dundee area.”

He added: “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.”

Jurors previously heard testimony about how the gang preyed on the women – most already troubled by personal issues. Some had even considered members of the group to be their friends.

Victims forced into sleazy ‘sex games’

Victims would be plied with whisky and crack cocaine as well as being made to take part in sleazy “sex games”.

The court heard how Cumpanasoiu, also known as “Mario”, was said to be raging at one of the victims for not earning enough.

A video was found on his phone recording the victim climbing a tree, and he was said to have threatened: “Because you do not make money, you stay all day in the tree.”

There were said to be that many young women “passing through” the gang struggled to remember who they all were.

Cumpanasoiu was found guilty of 15 charges including running brothels and earlier pleaded guilty to a further three charges: attempting to pervert the course of justice; knowingly living off the earnings of prostitution; and possession of a knife.

Prosecutors said the 38-year-old supplied drugs to, and raped multiple women, as well as being involved in sexual coercion.

Cristian Urlateanu, 41, was found guilty of nine charges including rape, assault, living off the earnings of prostitution and the supply of cocaine.

At the time of the offending, he lived with his partner and co-accused, Alexandra Bugonea, 35.

All five individuals, who are from Romania, have been added to the sex offenders register for an indefinite period.

Prosecutors said that after Cumpanasoiu and Stan, 35, were arrested, their co-accused Urlateanu and Bugonea were located in Belgium and extradited.

Dobre, 45, was traced in the Czech Republic and brought back to Scotland for the trial.

Fiona Kirkby, Procurator Fiscal for High Court Sexual Offences, said: “This gang ruthlessly exploited vulnerable women for their own gain, without any regard for the suffering and trauma they caused.”

Following the judgment, the Scottish Conservatives urged Mr Swinney to rethink his opposition to a Scottish inquiry into grooming gangs.

In September, the SNP and Scottish Greens voted down an amendment to the Victims Bill which would have set up an inquiry into the issue.

Liam Kerr MSP, the shadow justice secretary, said: “The SNP’s block on an inquiry was an abject betrayal of victims and raises questions as to why they are refusing to allow a light to be shone on this scandal, which would enable vital lessons to be learnt to prevent future abuse.

“John Swinney and the SNP Government must accept they got this wrong and order one now.

“It’s imperative that the voices of Scottish victims of these vile gangs are heard, just like victims south of the border. That’s the very least they deserve.”

Pauline McNeill, Scottish Labour’s justice spokeswoman, said: “We must leave no stone unturned in ensuring women and girls in Scotland are protected and our safeguarding systems are working as they must.”