A COUPLE from Staple Hill are in prison awaiting sentence after they admitted conspiracy to control prostitution for gain.
Benjamin Hopkins, aged 56, and 55-year-old Liu Xu Hopkins, both of the High Street, have been remanded in custody along with a third defendant, Khondakar Hasan, 39, from Morton Walk in Leicester.
They were among six people arrested in October following a series of raids on seven “massage parlours” in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Reading.
The raids were carried out as part of a modern slavery and human trafficking investigation by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit.
Seven women were “offered safeguarding support” after the raids.
Three other people, a woman from London and two men from Suffolk, have been released on police bail.
The Hopkins and Hassan were charged with conspiracy in human trafficking, conspiracy to transfer criminal property and conspiracy to control prostitution for gain, and pleaded guilty to the latter charge at Bristol Crown Court in late November.
Detective Chief Inspector Adam Smith, of SWROCU, said: “Wiltshire Police referred this investigation to us following community concerns about two businesses in Chippenham, which have since been ordered to close by the court.
“This shows the importance of community intelligence, which is how this whole case started.
“Ultimately, the actions of those people in Chippenham who chose to speak up rather than turn a blind eye have led to an investigation with three people convicted and remanded in custody while they await sentencing.”
Anyone with information or concerns about potential modern slavery happening in their communities can report to their local police by calling 101 call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or call the Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700 or visit modernslaveryhelpline.org online.