Dundee grooming gang jailed for raping and sexually abusing women

A Romanian grooming gang run by a “winking, grinning pimp” has been jailed for raping and sexually assaulting 10 women in their Dundee flat.

Four men and one woman drugged their victims, aged between 16 and 30, at various properties between 2021 and 2022.

Ringleaders Marian Cumpanasoiu, 38, Remus Stan, 35, Cristian Urlateanu, 41, Catalin Dobre, 45, and Alexandra Bugonea, 35, were previously found guilty of 30 charges in the High Court in Glasgow.

Cumpanasoiu was sentenced to 24 years in prison, Urlateanu to 20 years, Stan to 12 years, Dobre to 10 years and Bugonea to eight years.

Judge Lord Scott told the gang they were further increasing the vulnerability of young women.

She added: “I commend women for taking back control of their lives to the extent that they can do that.”

The judge said it would be a matter for the Home Office but the gang would likely be deported once their sentences were completed.

Three gang members – Urlateanu, Dobre and Bugonea – fled the country but were tracked down and extradited from Belgium and the Czech Republic to Scotland for their trial last December.

Jurors at the six-week trial heard harrowing testimony about how the gang preyed on women, many of whom were already plagued by personal problems.

Cumpanasoiu was found guilty of 10 rape counts, while Urlateanu was found guilty of six rapes.

Compansiou was also found guilty under the Trafficking in Persons Act on charges of coercing a woman into prostitution and running two brothels.

Stan was found guilty of four rapes and Dobre of two.

Alexandra Bugonea was found guilty of one count of rape and another of unlawful sexual activity.

This breaking news is being updated and more details will be released shortly. Please refresh the page for the full version.

You can get Breaking News from your smartphone or tablet. BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X To get the latest alerts.