Brothel owners responsible for the sexual exploitation of trafficked women at over 50 locations across the UK have been jailed at Maidstone Crown Court.
The locations in Kent included Canterbury, Chatham, Dartford, Gillingham, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells.
Yuan Hang, Lina Wang and Chung Fu Wang played leading roles in the prostitution of vulnerable victims in multiple towns and cities.
Some of the women were brought into the country illegally and forced into sex work to pay off family debts, including one who had no idea where she was. The criminality also had a significant impact on local people who reported noise, criminal damage and regular visits to the premises at all times of the day and night.
Police in the county first became aware of the criminal enterprise in 2019 following the discovery of two brothels in Gillingham and Maidstone that officers were later able to link. This led to a complex investigation that relied heavily on the analysis of mobile phone data to match specific numbers used for marketing purposes to the offenders responsible.
When Lina Wang was arrested at her home in Cambridgeshire in August 2021, she attempted to hide six mobile phones that fell to the floor from behind her back. During a subsequent search of the property officers found bank statements showing she was in possession of around £430,000.
Chung Fu Wang was arrested the same day in London, also surrounded by mobile phones and in possession of bank cards belonging to some of the sex workers he controlled. Yuan Hang had been arrested several months earlier when he gave himself up to police following a warrant at a flat in London that he was renting. Despite having minimal employment history or means of legitimate income, he was found to be a heavy gambler who drove expensive cars and visited high-end retailers.
Sentencing the three at Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday 1 April 2025, the Judge criticised the offenders for their lack of empathy, shame or remorse. He added that through a level of coercion, deceit or taking advantage of desperation, they were each using their victims for their own ‘selfish, greedy reasons’.
- Lina Wang, from Cambridge, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to control prostitution for gain and acquiring and possessing criminal property, and was jailed for five years and eight months.
- Chung Fu Wang, 41, from Dagenham, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to control prostitution for gain and was sentenced to three years and nine months’ imprisonment.
- Yuan Hang, 39, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to control prostitution for gain and possessing criminal property and was jailed for five years and eight months.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Dameon Shaw said:
‘This was a lengthy and complex investigation into a group of criminals responsible for untold misery towards a significant number of victims across the UK.‘Forcing vulnerable women to work in the sex industry is an appalling thing to do and these three offenders should be utterly ashamed of themselves. Unfortunately they have shown scant remorse or regret for their actions, which enabled them to live the high life whilst their victims suffered in silence.
‘Anyone who believes a brothel is being run near their home or place of work is encouraged to report it to Kent Police. Doing so helps us to take action against those responsible and most importantly to help those vulnerable women who may have been forced into the sex industry against their will.’