Brothel owners jailed for sexual exploitation

Brothel owners responsible for the sexual exploitation of trafficked women at over 50 locations across the UK have been jailed.

Yuan Hang, Lina Wang and Chung Fu Wang played leading roles in the prostitution of vulnerable victims in multiple towns and cities including Canterbury, Chatham, Dartford, Gillingham, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells.

Some of the women were brought into the country illegally and forced into sex work to pay off family debts, including one who had no idea where she was, Kent Police said.

Others were coerced into taking part in unsafe sexual practices such as not using protection.

Kent Police said it first became aware of the criminal enterprise in 2019 following the discovery of two brothels in Gillingham and Maidstone that officers were later able to link.

A complex investigation was carried out that relied heavily on the analysis of mobile phone data.

When Lina Wang was arrested at her home in Cambridgeshire in August 2021, she attempted to hide six mobile phones that fell to the floor from behind her back.

During a subsequent search of the property officers found bank statements showing she was in possession of around £430,000.

The three were sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday.

Lina Wang, 44, of Bartlow Road, Cambridge, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to control prostitution for gain and acquiring and possessing criminal property, and was jailed for five years and eight months.

Chung Fu Wang, 41, of Blackborne Road, Dagenham, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to control prostitution for gain and was sentenced to three years and nine months' imprisonment.

Yuan Hang, 39, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to control prostitution for gain and possessing criminal property and was jailed for five years and eight months.

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