3 Eastern European men from Kosovo, Albania & Lithuania trafficked 2 girls (18 & 19 years old) from Lithuania to Sheffield (one girl was further trafficked to London – this case can also be viewed on Slavery Map). On arrival at Gatwick airport, their passports were taken and they were auctioned to a group of men in the ‘Costa’ coffee bar. They were then taken to a flat in Sheffield to begin ‘working’ under threat of torture or death. They were told that they would be kept in baths of ice or shot dead if they refused to sleep with who they were told. The traffickers also threatened that if they disobeyed, they would be sold onto traffickers in London, who would lock them up and give them no food. Both girls were never left unattended and all calls were monitored.
Location
United Kingdom · Pitsmore, Sheffield · 2005
(location generalized to protect survivors) Response & intervention
Newspapers report that the three traffickers were tried at Sheffield Crown Court, and jailed for up to 21 years, after being convicted of trafficking women into the UK and forcing them to work in brothels. The defendants were charged with 13 counts during the course of the trial. They were all convicted of: • Trafficking women and sex trafficking charges • False imprisonment • Forcing women into sexual activity (one man acquitted) • Causing female sexual activity without consent. One man was also convicted of: • Three counts of rape Two men convicted of: • Controlling prostitutes for gain.
The girl who was trafficked on to London managed to escape to the safety of a neighbors’ home, who took her in, after 5 days. The girl who remained in Sheffield managed to escape after 11 days. Presumably this invoked police investigation.
Unknown – the two girls were flown back to their families in Lithuania.
Documented on the original SlaveryMap (2008–2016). We don't have a verifiable source on file yet — use “Report a problem” below to add one.