Gidea Park couple sentenced for trafficking and sexually exploiting women

Sebastian and Anna Zimoch led a crime network that made more than £500,000 (Credit: Metropolitan Police)

A couple from Gidea Park have been sentenced for trafficking women from Poland to London to be sexually exploited. 

Sebastian Zimoch, 48, and his wife Anna, 45, started an organised crime group that was responsible for multiple brothels and an escort service in 2015.

The couple, of Carlton Road, ran two brothels in the Docklands and north west London while Michael Lozinski, 53, of Hayes, was responsible for five others in west London.

Zimoch also ran an escort website called Golden Kiss which advertised girls for sex work.

Rafal Lacki, 41, of Harlow, and Gregaor Borowka, 44, of Harrow, were recruited to drive women to the clients. Borowka also worked as their receptionist.  

One 19-year-old victim was denied food after she refused to perform sexual services with a client. 

She eventually managed to escape and alerted police to what was happening in April 2020. 

Specialist Crime detectives then identified more than 300 potential female victims and safeguarded 134 of them. 

Officers executed five search warrants in Gidea Park, Harrow, Hayes, Forest Gate and Harlow during the early hours of Tuesday, 9 February 2021. They arrested the couple as well as the other three men. 

Police executing a search warrant in Gidea Park (Credit: Metropolitan Police)

All five were found guilty of conspiracy to arrange or facilitate travel of another person with a view of exploitation and conspiracy to control prostitution for gain at Isleworth Crown Court. 

Sebastian was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment while Anna was given a two year suspended sentence, ordered to undertake 150 hours unpaid work and given a 30 days’ rehabilitation requirement. 

Lozinski was also convicted of controlling prostitution for gain and was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment. 

Borowka received three years and nine months. Lacki was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment but has been released due to time already served. 

The victim, using the pseudonym Bella, has since said: “I hope my story will help keep young vulnerable woman and children safe. Modern slavery needs to be stop immediately. After today, I will be looking forward to the future.”

Bella helped detectives uncover the criminal network (Credit: Metropolitan Police)

Detective Inspector Esther Richardson, who led the investigation, said: “My team have worked tirelessly to uncover the true scale of this illegal operation and track down and safeguard hundreds of other women across London who were being exploited by this OCG.

“Unfortunately, this type of exploitation is still happening across London and the UK. The Met’s modern slavery team works around the clock to identify people involved in human trafficking and forced labour, and we play a role in protecting and supporting hundreds of victims each year.

“We need help from the public as they have an important role to play in recognising and reporting modern slavery. If you suspect someone may be a victim of modern slavery, report it. You will always be taken seriously and protection and support is available.

“Often those affected do not see themselves as potential victims of sexual exploitation and many will have been coerced into this life to make money for an organised crime network. Victims are often told the police and authorities in the UK are not to be trusted and with limited English are unable to seek help, even if they want to.

“We believe there are victims of modern slavery in every borough across London and the public may encounter them every day, possibly without realising. As well as being sexually exploited, victims have been found working in construction, domestic servitude, agriculture, cannabis factories and in places you use yourself, such as car washes, barbers and nail bars.”

If you suspect that you, or someone you have come into contact with, may be a victim of modern slavery or trafficking and require support, please call The Salvation Army’s 24 hour confidential referral helpline on 0800 808 3733.

For more on this story, and the latest on our other local and national news, listen to Time 107.5FM