Survivors speak out as four jailed for a combined 38.5 years after trafficking women for forced sexual labour

In two powerful victim impact statements read in court, one of the survivors said: “After I arrived in the UK, I started having panic attacks, and even now after so long, if somebody screams near me or is talking to me in an aggressive manner, the panic attacks come back.”

She added: “I don’t have any relationship with my relatives; my mum, my sister and one lady friend, who I have known for a long time, are the only ones I speak to. My biggest regret is that I hurt my mum, and she has suffered so much. When she heard me on the phone, she didn’t know if I was well, if I had anything to eat and so I had to lie to her.”

The Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime (MSOIC) team led the investigation and established that the four defendants were part of a Romanian organised crime group (OCG) responsible for the recruitment, trafficking, and sexual exploitation of two confirmed victims, as well as additional unidentified victims.  

In June 2026 Ionut Robert Marghiol and Denis Vatafu went on trial. Their victims were trafficked both into and within the UK. The pair exercised control over them for financial gain, advertising them for sex work on 'adult services' websites, then taking any money they earned.  

Evidence found on mobile phones revealed the extent of the exploitation and abuse, including discussions around using degrading sexual abuse as a method to groom and force victims into submission. 

As well as sexually exploiting the victims, Marghiol subjected them to multiple rapes and used physical violence to intimidate and control them. 

Two victims have bravely given evidence in support of this investigation. 

In her impact statement, another survivor said: “Without my knowledge Marghiol made an appointment to a tattoo artist and asked me to have a large tattoo, initially my back but I ended up having it on my right thigh because the tattoo artist refused to do it on my back.

“Marghiol’s intention was to have his portrait on my skin and to be big enough that people could see it. I am trying my best to avoid looking at that tattoo, I cover my legs all the time and mentally I feel like I am attached to someone that I don’t want to be. He told me that if I have that tattoo, then no one else would want to be with me.

“He and his friend used to joke that when they had put their name on a girl they had "marked" them or "registered" like a car, meaning he owned me. His friends said a small name on the girls, but he went next level.

Following a three-week trial (on 30 June 2026) Marghiol was found guilty of the following offences: four counts of rape, three counts of requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour, four counts of facilitating the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, three counts of running a brothel, one count of perverting the course of justice, and one count of actual bodily harm (ABH). 

Vatafu was found guilty of facilitating the travel of another person with a view to exploitation and running a brothel.

Nicolae and Maria Branovici, who are husband and wife, were arrested in February 2026 due to evidence uncovered as part of the ongoing investigation and subsequently pleaded guilty.

Nicolae was convicted of two offences of facilitating the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, and possession of cocaine. Maria was found guilty of facilitating the travel of another person with a view to exploitation

On 5 October 2026 at Manchester Crown Court the four defendants were handed the following prison sentences: 

Ionut Robert Marghiol (13/10/89) of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 25 years in prison, and handed an indefinite Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order (STPO).

Denis Vatafu (05/07/92) of no fixed abode, was sentenced to eight years in prison, and handed a 15-year Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order (STPO).

Nicolae Branovici (15/01/93) of NFA was sentenced to four and a half years in prison, and handed a 10-year Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order (STPO).

Maria Branovici (15/08/99) of NFA was sentenced to one year in prison, and handed a 10-year Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order (STPO).

Senior Investigating officer Detective Inspector Abigail Thomas, from GMP's serious and organised crime group (SOCG), said: "This investigation was launched when two women came forward to report the horrific sustained abuse and exploitation that they had endured.

“I would like to pay testament to their courage throughout the criminal justice process, in particular giving evidence at the trial, which was crucial in securing justice and ensuring that the two defendants are now safely behind bars and unable to cause harm to other women.

“Criminals committing these offences reap massive profits by preying on and exploiting vulnerable women.

"We remain committed to working with partners to tackle modern slavery and violence against women and girls, and to relentlessly pursuing offenders and disrupting organised crime groups (OCGs) committing this type of offending. We are also committed to working with partners to ensure that victims and survivors receive the protection and support they need.”

If you are concerned about criminal activity within your area, you can report this to police directly on 101 or by reporting information using our online report tool at www.gmp.police.uk. Always dial 999 in an emergency.

Alternatively reports can be made via the Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700 or its website Modern Slavery Helpline, or via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.