Gang jailed for trafficking vulnerable people from Latvia

Top left to right: Ainars Pelcis and Ilgvars Pelcis. Bottom left to right: Magdalena Kleina, Madara Stromane and Karens Pelcis

Members of a gang who forced vulnerable people to sleep on a kitchen floor or share a sofa at night, while taking most of their wages, have been jailed.

Over five years, 28 victims were trafficked by the group from Latvia.

Nottingham Crown Court heard the gang was headed by Ainars Pelcis, 54, described as the "gypsy baron" because of his power and wealth.

The nine gang members were handed sentences ranging from six years to one year and two months.

Judge James Sampson said the gang had controlled their victims with "surprising and remarkable" success.

He also described them as "thoroughly greedy and dishonest", but "very clever".

Some victims slept on mattresses infested with bed bugs

The court heard vulnerable men were recruited on the promise of work in the UK.

When they arrived, they worked in food factories in Derbyshire and were housed in sub-standard accommodation while the gang spent most of their wages on luxury cars and property.

The first of two raids took place at addresses in Derby in September last year

The gang was arrested after police raided homes in Derby and Latvia in September 2017 and February 2018.

During the raid in Latvia, a man in his 60s was found living in a shack without heating in temperatures as low as -16C.

Police said he was made to carry out odd jobs on behalf of the gang.

A man in his 60s, who was carrying out odd jobs for the gang, was found living in a squalid shack in Latvia

The gang - comprising five men and four women - originally denied the offences, but changed their pleas seven weeks into a three-month trial.

All nine gang members admitted conspiracy to arrange or facilitate entry into the UK for exploitation and have now been sentenced:

• Pelcis, of Rutland Street, Derby: Five-and-a-half years

• Ilgvars Pelcis, 33, of St James Road, Derby: Three years and eight months

• Karlis Aleksandrovs, 42, of Patmore Square, Derby: Two years

• Magdalena Kleina, 55, of St James Road, Derby: Five-and-a-half years

• Jolanta Pelce, 37, of Patmore Square, Derby: Two years

• Karens Pelcis, 25, Vincent Street, Derby: Six years

• Madara Stromane, 24, Rutland Street, Derby: Six years

• Andris Krauklis, 39, Vincent Street, Derby: One year and three months

• Imitra Didzis, 33, Talsul Tukums Latvia: One year and two months

Det Con Kane Martin said officers "saw first-hand" the conditions people were forced to live in

Det Con Kane Martin said officers were "taken aback by the callous nature" of how the victims were treated.

He added: "We saw first-hand how vulnerable they truly were, and the conditions they were forced to live in while earning money for someone else."

Adam Thompson, senior manager at the National Crime Agency's Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Unit, said: "This group recruited vulnerable victims with false promises, housing them in appalling conditions and exploiting them ruthlessly."

Linsey Farnsworth from the CPS said the evidence victims provided in court gave a "harrowing account of the human impact of this group's crimes".