Crime Desk A man who, together with his partner made more than a million pounds running a brothel empire, was yesterday (11/5/10) convicted of conspiracy to traffic people within the UK for sexual exploitation.
Michael Dalton was found guilty following a trial at Croydon Crown Court. His partner, Nikki Chen, had also admitted trafficking for sexual exploitation at an earlier hearing.
The pair ran four brothels, exploiting women they had trafficked from Asia to work in them. They made more than a million pounds running the brothels over a six year period.
They owned properties in Gloucestershire and Surrey, as well as luxury Mercedes and Lamborghini sports cars, bought with the proceeds of their crimes.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service's Clubs and Vice Unit, which is now part of SCD9's Human Exploitation and Organised Crime Command, carried out a proactive investigation into the activities of Chen, Dalton, and others from October 2008 to July 2009.
During the operation - codenamed Operation Icefall - officers observed at least a dozen customers visiting each of the brothels every day. The minimum payment for services from prostitutes working in the premises was £60, ranging up to £120 per hour.
Following raids on the premises in London and the Home Counties, police closed down four brothels.
Chen, 56, and Dalton, 44, both of Kingston Road, Leatherhead, have also been convicted of money laundering offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and control of prostitution for gain. Chen has already surrendered £250,000 and the amount Dalton, 44, is to repay will be determined at a future hearing.
Manjit Singh, 33, of Boyn Hill, Maidenhead, and Ian Garrett, 43, of Kingston Road, Epsom, also admitted conspiracy to traffic people in the UK. Singh was involved in the transportation of women to and from premises. Garrett also assisted in this role and was seen carrying luggage that belonged to trafficked South East Asian women whilst he escorted them to brothels.
All four will be sentenced on the 11th June 2010.
Another three women also admitted management of brothels earlier this year and were sentenced to up to three months each before deportation.
Detective Chief Superintendent Richard Martin, head of the Met's Human Exploitation and Organised Crime Command, said:
"Chen, Dalton and their co-conspirators had a blatant disregard for the women they had brought into, and moved around the UK, with the promise of a better life.
"The young women they controlled were exploited and obliged to have sex with in excess of 12 strangers a day, in order to pay off the debts they had accrued in being trafficked to the UK on false passports and visas on the promise of a better life. Some did not know that they would have to work as prostitutes in the UK.
"Nikki Chen and Michael Dalton took the vast majority of the cash they made through their illegal activities to fund their lavish lifestyles, living in expensive houses and driving luxury sports cars.
"Fortunately, their criminality came to our attention and they have now been convicted for the fear and exploitation they caused.
"Any woman who is being violated by people like Chen and Dalton should not be afraid to come forward and tell police how they are being forced to live. We always treat them with the respect they deserve and will obtain help for them to move on with their lives."
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