West Drayton man accused of being involved in sex trafficking ring denies any wrongdoing

A West Drayton man accused of being part of a sex trafficking ring involving underage girls has denied any wrongdoing and insisted he is innocent.

Daniel Pusey, 20, of Money Lane, West Drayton, denied having unlawful sex with any of the girls or that he had been implicated in any plan to exploit them.

Pusey took to the stand at the trial at Guildford Crown Court on at court on Wednesday (March 15) where he and three other defendants, including a man from Ealing, stand trial accused of exploitation.

It is alleged that a home in Chertsey, Surrey, was used as a base for a gang who escorted girls as young as 13 to Travelodge hotels for illegal sex acts with older men.

The youngsters would be plied with booze and sometimes drugs so they could carry out the illegal sex acts, the court heard.

Pusey, who was said to be part of the gang, continued having unlawful sex even though he was on police bail after officers found him in bed with a 13-year-old girl at his home, it is alleged.

A witness who saw Pusey engaging in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl in a hotel bedroom told him: "That's disgusting."

The court heard it was just one incident in a catalogue of sex crimes said to have been committed by four defendants on trial.

Pusey said he and others had gone to the hotels with girls who were friends "just to have fun".

“Three rooms were booked for one night. We were going to have a party. That was all,” he said.

Pusey said it made more sense to have a party at a hotel than cause a disturbance at a private house where children might be trying to sleep.

Asked by his defence counsel if the plan was to exploit the girls sexually, he replied: “No. They were just intending to have a party. Everyone was pouring their own drinks.”

Pusey said the people there were drinking vodka and smoking at one hotel before they were asked to leave by security staff.

Asked if he had sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl at his home, he said: “No. There was no sex involved.”

Pusey was also asked about sexual activity with a girl aged 14 at a room in one of the Travelodge hotels.

He revealed that digital penetration had been involved, but Pusey said he had been told that girl was 16.

Also in the dock are Diane Chilcott, 39, of Rutherwyk Road, Chertsey, Robert Carson, 18, of Gurnell Grove, Ealing and Jerrell Sutherland, 24, of Milwards, Harlow.

Two of the defendants: Robert Carson and Diane Chilcott (Image: TMS)

All four deny four offences of facilitating travel to exploit. The three male defendants deny a fifth charge of facilitating travel to exploit.

The five counts were brought under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Pusey alone denies six charges of penetrative sexual activity with a child and one of non-penetrative sexual activity with a child.

Christopher May, prosecuting, said: "The case against all four defendants involves arranging to take girls in their early teens with a view to exploiting them sexually."

At the hotels, rooms were booked at various times by the four defendants and once the girls were there they were offered alcohol and on occasion drugs involving cannabis and cocaine.

Chilcott was the oldest of the four accused and her home address in Chertsey was used as a base "where many of the girls were brought".

Mr May said there was ample evidence to show that each of the defendants knew the girls were below the age of consent.

He said Pusey was accused of “multiple offences” of unlawful sexual activity with minors.

When he was told that one of the girls he had been performing sex acts with was under 16, he is said to have sent her a message to her saying: “I don’t mind because you’re my girl. I hope you won’t tell anyone.”

The trial continues.