Ionut-Robert Marghiol – Manchester

A sex trafficker who lured young women with promises of love before forcing them into prostitution has been jailed for 25 years.

Ionut-Robert Marghiol, 37, used repeated rapes, brutal beatings and fear to control women whose exploitation funded a network of brothels across Greater Manchester.

One victim endured almost daily rapes and violence during five years under his control. Another was just 18 when he brought her to the UK.

Manchester Crown Court heard that Marghiol operated brothels on Tonge Moor Road in Bolton, Eton Hill Road in Radcliffe and Oscar Street in Moston.

His first identified victim believed he loved her. After contacting her in 2019, he persuaded her to travel to Spain for what she thought was a holiday.

Instead, he put her to work in a club selling sex.

Around 10 months later, he moved her to Britain to increase his earnings. Here, he subjected her to repeated rapes and beatings, including attacks with weapons, while forcing her into prostitution.

Judge Kate Cornell said the woman could neither leave nor live freely and was terrified of him.

The second woman was forced into prostitution in Bolton and Moston, where regular rapes and beatings kept her trapped. At one point, Marghiol threatened to sell her to other men.

Both women escaped to Romania in 2024. Marghiol tracked them down and brought them back.

Later that year, they fled again, reaching Essex and reporting him to police.

Even arrest did not stop him.

While on bail, Marghiol continued operating his prostitution business, with Denis Vatafu running the Radcliffe brothel for him.

After being arrested again and remanded in custody in 2025, Marghiol used his brother to try to persuade one victim to withdraw her statement. Police became suspicious, and she subsequently reversed her retraction and gave evidence.

Marghiol, of Oscar Street, Moston, was convicted of four rape counts, several covering repeated incidents; four trafficking offences; three forced labour offences; assault; and perverting the course of justice. He also admitted two brothel-keeping offences and was convicted of a third.

Judge Cornell described him as calculating and callous, telling him his operation was built on grooming, manipulation and exploitation.

Jailing him for 25 years, she told him: “There is no explanation, no mitigation for your conduct.”

He must remain on the sex offenders register for life and was given a lifetime trafficking prevention order. The judge said he was likely to be deported after his release.

Three others were also jailed:

– Denis Vatafu, 34, of Windsor Road, Harpurhey: Eight years for keeping a brothel and arranging or facilitating travel for exploitation. He received a 15-year trafficking prevention order. The judge said he knew what was happening, although he had not personally used violence against the women.

– Nicolae Branovici, 33, of Great Clowes Street, Salford: Three years after admitting two trafficking offences and cocaine possession. He received a 10-year trafficking prevention order.

– Maria Branovici, 27, of Bennett Drive, Salford: Nine months after admitting a trafficking offence. She also received a 10-year trafficking prevention order.