Hull Escorts

Two individuals have been handed sentences following their involvement in a heinous crime involving the trafficking and exploitation of a woman into forced sex work.

Gheorghe Bonculescu, 27, residing on Warmsworth Road in Doncaster, received a four-and-a-half-year prison term for his role in controlling prostitution for profit.

Sharing the same address, Elena Birovescu, also 27, received a two-year suspended sentence for her part in money laundering.

Both individuals confessed to their crimes on January 15th at Hull Crown Court and were subsequently sentenced on February 13th.

The victim bravely approached the British Transport Police at Hull Paragon station in December 2022, revealing she had been coerced into sex work.

The court heard harrowing details of how she had fled from a property in Hull, which Bonculsecu had arranged as her workplace.

Under Bonculescu's arrangement, the woman was advertised for sex work online, enduring seven months of exploitation. Meanwhile, Birovescu facilitated the laundering of £5,000 in cash, ultimately transferring it to Bonculescu.

Judge Mark Bury condemned their actions, highlighting the victim's ordeal, stating, "She was coerced to see many customers with STIs because of you, the reality is she wasn't benefitting at all. She was a sexual prisoner."

Detective Sergeant Richard Kirk of Humberside Police's modern slavery and human trafficking team denounced Bonculescu and Birovescu as predators, emphasizing their exploitation of a vulnerable woman for financial gain.

He praised the woman for her bravery throughout the investigation, underscoring the courage it took to come forward.

A couple from Warmsworth Road, Gheorghe Bonculescu, aged 27, and Elena Birovescu, aged 26, are set to face sentencing at Hull Crown Court on February 12th. Their court appearance follows Bonculescu's admission of guilt to charges of controlling prostitution for financial gain, while Birovescu pleaded guilty to money laundering.

The case stems from events in 2022, during which Bonculescu orchestrated online advertisements offering women for sexual services after facilitating their travel to the UK. Over a period of seven months, Birovescu engaged in the laundering of money by making multiple cash deposits into her personal bank account, later transferring the funds to benefit the couple's financial interests.

Detective Sergeant Richard Kirk of Humberside Police condemned the actions of Bonculescu and Birovescu, labeling them as predators who exploited a vulnerable woman for monetary gain. DS Kirk commended the courage displayed by the victim throughout the investigation and assured the public that the perpetrators have been detained, no longer posing a threat to others.

The diligent efforts of law enforcement in this case underscore their commitment to addressing instances of sexual exploitation with utmost seriousness. DS Kirk emphasized the force's dedication to safeguarding victims and holding offenders accountable before the courts.

Authorities urge individuals who have experienced sexual exploitation or have concerns about others to report such incidents promptly. They can reach out to Humberside Police at 101 or dial 999 in emergencies. Alternatively, support is available through the Modern Slavery helpline at 0800 121 700 or Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.

In a chilling saga that mirrors the classic tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, a Hull resident's sinister dual nature has been thrust into the spotlight once again. Martin Norton, a seemingly unassuming 45-year-old cleaner, harbored a malevolent alter ego named 'Michael' that harbored sinister fantasies of violence against women, dating back to his formative years. The shocking revelation emerged as Norton's disturbing past resurfaced, revealing a heinous plot to abduct and murder a sex worker.

Contrary to his outward appearance, Norton's psyche was a battlefield between two contrasting personas. His co-workers saw him as a mild-mannered individual, concealing the lurking darkness within. Beneath the veneer of shyness, 'Michael' dwelled—an embodiment of Norton's most malevolent desires. 'Michael' reveled in thoughts of ensnaring, assaulting, and ultimately ending the lives of vulnerable women, a disturbing inclination that had persisted since his youth.

During a pivotal chapter of this grim saga, Norton's actions took a harrowing turn. In a case that sent shockwaves through the community, he was sentenced to life behind bars in 2004. The charges stemmed from his abduction of a sex worker, during which he subjected her to unspeakable terror by placing a firearm in her mouth, all while harboring intentions of ending her life.

Fast forward to the present year, and the Parole Board has cast its discerning gaze upon Norton's case once more. The question of whether he has truly conquered his malevolent alter ego and can reenter society has been a subject of grave scrutiny. Regrettably for Norton, the verdict rendered by the Parole Board serves as a stark reminder of the darkness that still permeates his psyche. Following a thorough review earlier this year, the panel reached a unanimous decision: Norton's release remains a risk too great to undertake. Even the prospect of relaxing the conditions of his confinement has been deemed unfeasible.

A spokesperson representing the Parole Board conveyed their stance on the matter, stating, "In June 2023, an in-depth assessment of Martin's case was undertaken. The outcome was unanimous in its conclusion: neither release nor a recommendation for eased confinement conditions were deemed appropriate." The decision reaffirms society's commitment to safeguarding its vulnerable members from the potential menace lurking within the complex duality of Martin Norton.

In a chilling episode that defies conventional understanding, the seemingly mundane life of a gymnasium cleaner was marred by an event that exposed a disturbing duality lurking beneath his façade. Martin Norton, an individual with a humble occupation, embarked on a fateful night in September 2003 that would forever alter the lives of those involved.

It was on Hessle Road, a thoroughfare in the west of Hull, that Norton's path intersected with that of a 39-year-old sex worker. What began as a seemingly ordinary encounter escalated rapidly into a horrifying ordeal. Transporting his unsuspecting victim to an isolated location within the Humber Bridge viewing area, Norton's calm and polite demeanor metamorphosed into the embodiment of his malevolent alter ego.

In a shocking turn of events, Norton accessed the trunk of his Citroen vehicle, emerging with handcuffs that swiftly ensnared his victim's wrists. The situation grew even more dire as he produced a firearm, its trigger ominously cocked, and thrust it into the woman's mouth. An act of terror that left her life hanging by a thread.

Miraculously, the victim managed to escape the clutches of her captor, only to find herself confronted once again by the threat of violence. Norton seized the handcuffs, brandishing them as tools of coercion, and menaced her with the prospect of being dragged along the ground. Just as swiftly as his malevolent persona had emerged, the transformation reversed, and Martin reemerged.

In a courageous act of self-preservation, Norton's victim reported the ordeal, leading to his subsequent arrest. The swift intervention of law enforcement agents ensured her liberation from the clutches of this twisted encounter.

Detective Inspector Tony Burke, who spearheaded the investigation, offered a glimpse into the perplexing nature of the case. Drawing upon his 25 years of experience in law enforcement, he stated, "I have never seen anything like this. Martin would not say boo to a goose but Michael was so dangerous." The contradiction between Norton's docile exterior and the ominous persona he assumed served as a stark reminder of the complexity of human nature.

The repercussions of Norton's actions were profound. The legal system meted out justice, resulting in a life sentence for false imprisonment. The penalty extended to nearly six years for the possession of a firearm, culminating in a cumulative incarceration period of 12 years. Norton's history was intertwined with a past marked by instability, including a 1978 confinement in borstal training following a knife threat and a 2001 arrest under the Mental Health Act.

The tale of Martin Norton is a sobering reminder of the unfathomable depths that human psyche can descend to, and the blurred lines between the ordinary and the sinister that can shape lives in the most unexpected ways.

A sex worker from Hull who robbed a 74-year-old client and his friend at knifepoint has been jailed.

Charlotte Newton, 25, of Gleneagles Park, deliberately targeted the pensioner because he was "vulnerable" and she thought he would be less likely to alert the police because of their secret sexual arrangement, Hull Crown Court heard.

Strip clubs and escort services could lead to a substantial fall in sex crimes, new research has found.

The study, published in The Economic Journal, discovered the existence of adult entertainment venues triggered a fall in the number of sexual offences carried out close by.

With an amenedment to the unloved Police Bill in parliament, it could happen that the Nordic model is introduced to England. The Nordic model bans the purchase of sex, while 'decriminilising the escort' The Nordic model will also ban advertising sites. There is a fierce battle building up to fight this amendment, and hopfully amend the police bill to fully decriminilise the sexwork. Many celebrities are supporting the decriminilisation.

A newly-published open letter that calls for MPs to oppose the further criminalisation of sex work in the UK has received 150 signatures, including those of celebrities, activists, and human rights organisations (such as FKA twigs, Amnesty International, and Sisters Uncut), and figures across politics, the media, and academia.

Spearheaded by the UK campaign group Decrim Now, the letter takes aim at legislation that criminalises the purchase of sex — often known as “the Nordic Model” — warning that measures touted as solutions to sex trafficking and exploitation “will only exacerbate violence against women, including those who are being exploited”.

It also encourages politicians to take an evidence-based approach to the sex industry, and to engage with and listen to sex workers. This comes amid repeated attempts to criminalise paying for sex in the UK (including the recent Sexual Exploitation Bill put forward by Labour’s Diana Johnson, which Decrim Now links to the controversial Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill) despite evidence suggesting that the move is likely to prove ineffective, and may have harmful consequences.

“Evidence shows that the Nordic Model does nothing for the very groups it claims to protect,” the letter continues, citing a sharp increase in violence against sex workers after similar legislation was introduced in the Republic of Ireland in 2017. In 2018, the non-profit initiative Ugly Mugs Ireland reported that violent crime against sex workers went up 77 per cent after the ruling came into effect.

Discretion of Hull, one of the city's brothels, has reopened with a raft of new measures in place in a bid to stop clients and workers infecting each other with the coronavirus

The venue says: "We provide shields and masks for staff and masks for customers.

On its website, Discretion says a risk assessment was carried out on August 26 with another due on November 26.

In terms of social distancing, its website reads "We limit the number of customers and staff allowed in any one place at all times."

Punters are also asked to wear face masks to limit the disease's spread.

Not everyone sees the same things as they walk the city streets. For some women, unremarkable spots – a chipped and shuttered doorway, a litter-strewn graveyard, an alley by the railway tracks – have been regular places of work, and also sites of devastating violence.

In 2014, Hull became the only local authority in the UK to use Section 222 of the 1972 Local Government Act to target sex workers directly. Women caught working on Hessle Road could be arrested and threatened with court.

14 outdoor sex workers have died in 6 years in Hull. This is because of the laws used by a Labour council. In Leeds with the red light district, one woman, unfortunately, was murdered. Persecuting sex workers and their clients lead to death.

Absence of Evidence, in collaboration with Henry/ Bragg, is in Hull until 26 July; in Shoreditch, London, until 2 August; and Soho, London, 27 July-9 August.

This month, photographs of some of these sites have appeared on billboards and bus shelters in Hull, part of the photo project Absence of Evidence, led by the artist duo Henry/Bragg, working with a group of former street sex workers from Hull called An Untold Story: Voices. “One is the view from the corner I worked, another is the doorway I stood in when it was raining,” says Amanda Hailes. “All the photographs represent something we have experienced, lived through and survived.”

Orders used to tackle prostitution in Hessle Road are set to be withdrawn after a High Court decision relating to animal protesters in London. Section 222 orders were introduced by Hull City Council five years ago to try and reduce the problems involving sex workers in the west Hull street.

It is now thought section 222 orders are illegal in the way they have been used. This is after an appeal in another case in London. Controversial clothing firm Canada Goose has been subject to numerous protests outside its London store by animal rights activists due to its use of fur and feathers. Section 222 orders were used to stop protesters. These orders were successfully appealed.

It is not all good news, because the cops will still be out in force prosecuting kerb crawlers and solicitors.

A prolific Hull sex offender posed as a woman while scouring for prostitutes in Hessle Road - just days after being banned from visiting the street.

Richard Raper, 42, of Kilnsea Grove, Hull, has several previous offences of attacking women and was found in breach of a sexual harm prevention order.

The order was put in place as Raper has 10 convictions for 13 offences, including indecent assault on females over the age of 16 and indecent exposure in relation to a sex worker.