Grooming gang jailed for raping 10 women

Alexandra Bugonea (top left), Catalin Dobre (bottom left), Cristian Urlateanu (top right), Remus Stan (bottom right) and ringleader Marian Cumpanasoiu (centre)

A Romanian grooming gang led by a "winking, smirking pimp" have been jailed for raping and sexually abusing 10 women in flats across Dundee.

The four men and one woman plied their victims - aged between 16 and 30 - with drugs at various properties between 2021 and 2022.

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.

Cumpanasoiu was sentenced to 24 years, Urlateanu to 20 years, Stan to 12 years, Dobre to 10 years and Bugonea to eight years.

Judge Lord Scott said that a number of the group "deflected and minimised" their offending against vulnerable victims.

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.

"No doubt you assumed rightly for some time that the drug-related lifestyles of the women meant that you were not reported or detected."

The judge said that the gang used the vulnerability of the women "to try to attack their credibility".

Lord Scott continued: "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.

"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."

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.

Three gang members - 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.

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.

Cumpanasoiu was found guilty of 10 charges of rape, while Urlateanu was convicted of six rapes.

Cumpanasoiu was also convicted of a charge under the Human Trafficking Act, by forcing a woman into prostitution, and two charges of brothel keeping.

Stan was found guilty of four rapes while Dobre was found guilty of two rapes.

Alexandra Bugonea was convicted of one rape and illegal sexual activity with another.

A bed inside the brothel on Bright Street, Dundee

Police Scotland uncovered the gang's activities during an operation focusing on the trafficking of woman to Dundee from eastern Europe to work as prostitutes.

But officers discovered vulnerable local women were also being groomed with gifts and drugs, including crack cocaine.

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.

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.

Victims were plied with whisky and crack cocaine as well as being made to take part in "sex games".

The gang was led by Cumpanasoiu, who was described as a "winking, smirking pimp" who behaved with a "predatory nature" towards women.

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.

A knife which belonged to Marian Cumpanasoiu

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.

This victim was said to have been sold a "pipe dream" of how she could make "lots of money" from selling her body.

But Cumpanasoiu was said to be angry at one stage at her not earning enough.

A video was found on his phone recording the victim climbing a tree.

Cumpanasoiu was said to have threatened: "Because you do not make money, you stay all day in the tree."

He and Stan also raped the woman.

The rapes took place at properties in Dundee

Cumpanasoiu was described by one victim as "absolutely relentless" and another was left feeling "disgusted" by him.

Cumpanasoiu claimed he only gave another of the young women crack cocaine to be "polite".

Alexandra Bugonea, who was a prostitute in Dundee, admitted having "sex parties" at her flat and described them as having a "fun atmosphere".

But one victim described seeing Bugonea semi-naked and teaming up with her then-boyfriend Cristian Urlateanu to rape.

Quizzed about sexually assaulting any of the victims, Bugonea said: "I am a woman - why would I have a plan to rape her?"

She also denied women only visited due to their drug issues, claiming she believed they were "friends".

There was also testimony of how Urlateanu, Stan and Dobre raped another woman.

DI Scott Carswell led the investigation into the gang

Lord Scott said Cumpanasoiu had "lied, denied and deflected" and "shown no meaningful insight or remorse".

The court heard he was key to the identification, targeting and recruitment of women for sexual exploitation and supplied them with crack cocaine.

The judge also said Cumpanasoiu presented a "high threat of harm to women".

His 24-year sentence will be split between a 20-year custodial term and a four-year extension.

Urlateanu's sentence was also divided between an 18-year custodial term and a two-year extension.

Meanwhile, Bugonea wept in the dock after she was jailed for eight years.

The jury heard she had difficult childhood experiences and may too have been exploited by others.

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.

Non-harassment orders were granted which prohibit the group from contacting their victims for an indefinite period.

They were also put on the sex offenders register.

Stan was separately given a five-year trafficking exploitation order.

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.

"These were truly reprehensible crimes, and the victims must be commended for their courage in speaking out."

Det Ch Insp Scott Carswell thanked the force's partners who supported the victims throughout the investigation.

He also urged people to contact officers directly if they have any concerns.

Det Ch Insp Carswell added: "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.

"That call can be the first step in freeing someone from slavery and exploitation."