Copyright dailyrecord
An image has been released showing the knife seized from the ringleader of a Romanian grooming gang behind the exploitation of 10 vulnerable women at a filthy brothel in Dundee . Mircea Cumpanasoiu, 37, Christian Urlateanu, 41, Alexandra Bugonea, 35, Remus Stan, 35, and Cataline Dobre, 45, were jailed for 68 years today after the gang were found guilty of a number of sick crimes in January. The Romanian-born gang - based at flats in Dundee - plied vulnerable women with whisky and drugs, including crack cocaine, leading a number of those they preyed upon to be blackmailed into sex. Images taken from inside the grim property show the long, sharp knife seized from the leader Mircea Marian Cumpanasoiu. Cumpanasoiu was called a "winking, smirking pimp". He was described as behaving towards women in a "predatory nature". Further images released following the trial at the High Court in Glasgow show a flat in Dundee's Bright Street, where one victim who gave evidence said she was mercilessly abused. The images show a dirty bed with a stained mattress and what appears to be a glass with alcohol on the floor. An empty chair is also shown with litter strewn around on a carpet covered in spills. In a second photo, discarded food bags and drink bottles lie on the floor alongside kitchen roll and other rubbish, while in a third, shelves can be seen stacked with drug paraphernalia such as pipes and bongs. Miscellaneous such as hairspray, eyeshadow palettes, and sunglasses, can be seen in a fourth photo. The court heard games such as spin the bottle and truth or dare were often played, where clothing was removed while Urlateanu asked questions of a sexual nature. He went on to forcibly rape the woman in a bedroom. Urlateanu and Bugonea were also both found guilty of raping the same woman together on various occasions at the flat on Bright Street. Ringleader Cumpanasoiu – known as Mario - was guilty of 15 charges, Urlateanu nine, his then partner Bugonea five, Stan eight and Dobre – known as Luigi - also five. The crimes occurred in 2021 and 2022. Cumpanasoiu was given a 24-year extended sentence with 20 years in custody. Urlateanu was sentenced to 18 years in custody with a two-year extension period. Stan was jailed for 12 years, Dobre for 10 years and Bugonea for eight years. All five individuals, who are from Romania, have been added to the sex offenders register for an indefinite period. Judge Lord Scott stated that a number of the group "deflected and minimised" their offending. He said in part: "Over a 15-month period each of you participated in the serious sexual abuse and exploitation of vulnerable and mostly young women in the Dundee area. "There were various reasons for their vulnerability including difficult family circumstances and use of drugs. "By offering them an unending supply of mostly free crack cocaine you exacerbated their vulnerabilities and proceeded to exploit them for your own sexual gratification and in some cases for financial gain." He added: "There is no suitable alternative to custody due to gravity of the crimes which involve a catalogue of serious sexual exploitative and abusive conduct upon vulnerable women."
