Marius Petre

Three Romanian men, including Marius Petre, were convicted at Preston Crown Court of serious sexual offences involving the trafficking and exploitation of two young women. The case came to light following a tip-off received by Lancashire Police via a tweet warning of possible underage girls at a brothel on Longworth Street in Preston. Officers raided the premises in July 2015, rescuing the two 18-year-old Romanian women who had been in the UK for approximately two weeks.

Marius Petre, aged 26 and residing in Preston, along with Adrian Matei, played a central role in luring the victims from Romania with promises of legitimate employment as hotel maids. Instead, upon arrival, the women were taken directly to the brothel and coerced into performing sexual acts on customers. They faced threats of violence against themselves and their families if they refused. Petre and Matei were each found guilty of two counts of rape, causing prostitution for financial gain, human trafficking, and intentionally arranging the entry to the UK of a person for sexual exploitation.

The women were subjected to rape by Petre, Matei, and Ionut Ion, who was already operating at the location. Detective Inspector Jane Webb of Lancashire Police described the victims as having been 'rescued from evil men that subjected them to such abhorrent crimes.' The force emphasised that the women are now being supported to build better lives in the UK. All three perpetrators, who are Romanian nationals, were convicted following a trial at Preston Crown Court. Sentencing for Petre, Ion, and Matei was scheduled for 15 March 2016.

This case highlights the dangers of human trafficking networks operating in the UK, with Lancashire Police acting swiftly on public intelligence to dismantle the operation. The convictions underscore the severe penalties for sexual exploitation and rape, as pursued under UK law.