A vice ring which trafficked women from Thailand to brothels in Bayswater, Kensington and Marylebone has been smashed.

On Wednesday, ten men and women were sentenced to a total of more than 16 years in prison at Southwark Crown Court after pleading guilty to controlling prostitution for gain.

An operation by the Metropolitan Police's Clubs and Vice Unit led to the arrests which saw a network of sex trafficking and illicit activity blasted apart.

Women were 'bought' by Jirapha Sriwisha, his female accomplice Cutima Khongphon and Kaewbenjarkhan Phanuask for up to £30,000 each. They were then forced to work in sex dens, run by the escort agency Oriental Gems, owned by Monthira Duangthip and brothers Pongpoj and Bordee Pitayatankul, until the 'debt' was paid.

Detective Superintendent Dave Eyles, in charge of operations at the Clubs and Vice Unit said: "It would have been virtually impossible for the women to ever pay back such substantial amounts of money, making them captives."

The trio were supported by Noppharat Charoenying, Panya Peakaew and Graipich Vudto and Thatri Pornpaditkong. This group collected money from brothels and drove the women to customers, waited for them and then returned them to the brothels.

Around sixty women at a time were advertised on Oriental Gems' website, their price ranging from £150 to £1,000. The 'business' was run from a flat in Westbourne Court, Orsett Terrace, Bayswater.

Pongpoj Pitayatankul, 31, of Guildford, was sentenced to 18 months for money laundering and controlling prositution. Bordee Pitayatankul, 33, of Guildford, and Monthira Duangthip, 35, of Westbourne Court, Bayswater, were sentenced to 15 months and 12 months respecitively for the same charges. Noppharat Charoenying, 29, and Panya Peakaew, 26, of Inverness Terrace, Bayswater, were both sentenced to 28 days together with Graipich Vudto, 28, of Westbourne Court, Orsett Terrace, Bayswater. Thatri Pornpaditkong, 27, of Page Street, Westminster, was given a sixty hour community order. Jirapha Sriwisha, 40, of Hendson, Kaewbenjarkam Phanusak, 32, of Streatham, were given two years. Cutima Khongphon, 55, of Streatham, was given two and a half years.
Cutima Khongphon, Monthira Duangthip and Jirapha Sriwisha were the only women involved in running the network.

THE BROTHELS LOCATIONS
Inverness Terrace, Bayswater
Cosway Street, Marybelone
Hatherley Court, Hatherley Grove,  Bayswater
Moscow Rd, Bayswater
Inverness Terrace,  Bayswater
Riven Court, Inverness Terrace,  Bayswater
Orsett Terrace,  Bayswater
Two in Gloucester Terrace,  Bayswater
Lancaster Gate,  Bayswater
Kensington High Street, Kensington
Wrights Lane, Kensington
Glenbuck Road, Surbiton
Devonshire Terrace ,  Bayswater
Dorset Square, Marylebone
Sale Place,  Bayswater