Two people have been jailed for modern slavery offences after they tricked victims into thinking they were coming to the UK to work in a meat factory.

Costel Tambac and Mariana Iova appeared at Leeds Crown Court today where Tambac, 50, formerly of Moorhey Street, Oldham, Greater Manchester was sentenced to nine years.

Iova, aged 35, also formerly of Moorhey Street, Oldham, was sentenced to eight years.

Speaking outside the court, Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Helen Steele, said: “First and foremost, my thoughts go out to the victims who suffered an horrendous ordeal.

“They were brought over to the UK under false pretences by organised criminals where they were sold as a commodity to be financially and sexually exploited through controlled prostitution.

“I hope the guilty verdicts together with the sentences handed down today will bring them some comfort as they continue with the process of rebuilding their lives.”

The pair, both Romanian nationals, were found to be responsible for controlling the lives of two female victims who were trafficked to the UK from Romania.

The victims were each told they were coming to the UK to work in a meat factory, when in reality they were “sold” to Tambac and Iova who made them work as sex workers at brothels in the Harehills and Holbeck areas of Leeds.

The defendants seized the money earnt by the victims, leaving them with as little as £10 a day to themselves, as well as enforcing their control by retaining their ID documents.

This investigation has been ongoing since 2016, when one of the victims came forward to West Yorkshire Police.

In 2018, Tambac and Iova fled the UK while they were still under investigation. Officers sought international arrest warrants, and the pair were traced to Amsterdam where they were arrested earlier this year and extradited back to the UK.

Detective Superintendent Steele added: “Our investigation was complex and began nine years ago when one of the victims came forward.

“It was the first ever investigation for West Yorkshire Police to conduct as a Joint Investigation Team with the Romanian authorities, who I would also like to thank as it meant we could maximise all investigational opportunities.

“The Joint Investigation Team also led to the Romanian authorities convicting the people responsible for trafficking the victims to the UK.

“A successful prosecution would not have been possible without the assistance of colleagues in Romania.”