Grooming gang convicted of raping women in Dundee

A Romanian grooming gang has been convicted of raping and sexually abusing 10 women in flats across Dundee.

The four men and one woman also plied their victims - aged between 16 and 30 - with drugs at various properties between 2021 and 2022.

Marian Cumpanasoiu, 37, Remus Stan, 34, Cristian Urlateanu, 41, Cataline Dobre, 44, and Alexandra Bugonea, 34, were convicted of 30 charges at the High Court in Glasgow.

The abuse was uncovered following a police operation focusing on the trafficking of women from eastern Europe forced to work as prostitutes in Dundee.

Intelligence revealed vulnerable local women were also being groomed, with many given gifts and drugs including crack cocaine.

The women were forced to have sex with the gang, and encouraged to recruit friends to come to the properties with the promise of drugs.

Judge Lord Scott told the group: "This was an appalling catalogue of rape, serial sexual abuse and exploitation of extremely vulnerable, mostly, young women."

One of the victims was forced into prostitution after Cumpanasoiu and Stan set up a profile on a website for her and drove her to meet men to have sex with.

Police Scotland detectives were able to gain their trust and build confidence for them to speak.

DI Scott Carswell, who led the investigation, told BBC Scotland News: "I think if we hadn't uncovered this, the impact would have been immeasurable.

"I do think that there would have been more victims further down the line, and I think it would have continued.

"I think they would have moved their victims into prostitution."

Jurors in the six-week trial heard harrowing testimony about how the gang preyed on the women – most already troubled by personal issues.

Ringleader Cumpanasoiu was described as a "winking, smirking pimp" who behaved with a "predatory nature" towards women.

One of the charges he was convicted of was under the Human Trafficking Act, by forcing a woman into prostitution.

Prosecutor Lisa Gillespie KC said this victim had been sold a "pipe dream" of how she could make "lots of money" from selling her body.

But at one stage, Cumpanasoiu was said to be raging at her for not earning enough.

He was described by another victim as "absolutely relentless" and another was left feeling "disgusted" by him.

Alexandra Bugonea, who was a prostitute in Dundee, admitted having "sex parties" at her flat - describing them as a "fun atmosphere".

But one victim described seeing Bugonea semi-naked and teaming up with her then boyfriend Cristian Urlateanu for rape.

There was also testimony of how Urlateanu, Stan and Dobre raped another woman.

This victim recalled being given a substance which made her feel "rotten" before being attacked by them.

In her speech, Miss Gillespie said it was clear that the women had issues in their lives.

She stated: "Perfect people living perfect lives do not normally end up as witnesses at the high court.

"They were vulnerable women that the group took advantage of - women who became drawn deeper into addiction due to their association with them."

Three of the gang, Urlateanu, Dobre and Bugonea fled the country but were traced and extradited back to Scotland from Belgium and the Czech Republic.

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

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

Alexandra Bugonea was convicted of one rape and illegal sexual activity with another.

As the group was being led to the cells at the High Court in Glasgow, one of them shouted: "We are innocent, you have failed to defend us".

The gang will be sentenced next month.