A Chinese man faces deportation after being found guilty and sentenced to over 3.5 years for running a network of brothels across the south and east of England.
Kun Yi He, aged 39, of Hunters Road in Chessington, though formerly of Totteridge Road in High Wycombe, was arrested during a series of raids by UKBA officers on suspected brothels and addresses linked to them in June 2011.
The raids were part of 1 of the biggest operations of its kind ever undertaken in the UK, involving around 150 of UKBA officers and 8 different police forces targeting 13 addresses.
Investigations by UKBA south east region criminal and financial investigation team identified Kun Yi He as the head of a network of 10 brothels across the south and east of England.
They included 5 addresses in Cambridge, 4 in Berkshire (2 in Maidenhead and 1 each in Slough and Wokingham) and 1 in Surrey (Godalming). All the brothels identified have since been closed.
Kun Yi He was found guilty of conspiracy to manage brothels on Monday 19 March following a 2 week trial at Reading Crown court.
Bernadette Ellison, south east criminal and financial investigation team, UK Border Agency said:
‘There is no doubt that this individual played a key role in the setting up and running of this wide network of brothels.
‘Thanks to the action we took the perpetrator is behind bars, facing deportation and the brothels shut.
‘This investigation – and today’s sentence – demonstrates UKBA commitment to tackling the international sex trade, illegal immigration and those who fuel it.’
Anyone from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who is sentenced to 12 months years or more is automatically eligible for deportation on completion of their sentence.
Two other people charged in connection with the same conspiracy had already pleaded guilty to the same charges. Ai Ju Su, aged 35, of Abbey Barn Road in High Wycombe, and Manjit Singh, aged 35, of Knowl Hill, Maidenhead, will be sentenced at a later date.
UKBA south east criminal and financial investigation team is a specialist unit of police officers seconded from forces across the south east working alongside UKBA warranted officers to investigate organised immigration crime.
The public can help us by reporting any information about suspected immigration abuse to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where anonymity can be assured.