A gang from west London responsible for trafficking 13 Thai nationals into the UK for prostitution have been jailed for 16 years.

Rashid Ahmed, 68, of Blackberry Farm Close in Heston, Hounslow, was sentenced to six years; while Hamall Amiri, 27, of Kings Road, Chelsea, and Nattakarn Budcha, 36, a Thai national, of Porter Street in Marylebone, were given five years each.

The two men and one woman who were found guilty for controlling prostitution and trafficking for sexual exploitation between 2010 and 2014, were sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday (January 20).

The Metropolitan Police said they were also each handed Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Orders under the Modern Slavery Act 2015, preventing them engaging in activities linked to trafficking and prostitution.

Ahmed and Amiri had been found guilty of the offences at Southwark Crown Court on September 29 2015, while Budcha was found guilty of controlling prostitution on the same day and convicted at a retrial in December for trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Nattakarn Budcha, 36, a Thai national, jailed for five years

Detective Inspector Clare Murray, of the Organised Crime Command, said: “This has been a lengthy and complex 18-month investigation with 13 extremely vulnerable Thai nationals trafficked into the UK and forced into prostitution.

“The sentences given by Judge Tomlinson, alongside London’s second Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order, send a clear message and hopefully a deterrent to anyone thinking of taking part in this abhorrent crime.

“I would like to commend the bravery of the victims, several of whom were bought back to London to give evidence, in securing these convictions as well as the charities that provided vital support to those involved.”

During the trial, the brave victims, a mix of female and transgender Thai nationals, gave evidence of having been “recruited” in Thailand and brought to the UK where they had their mobile phones and official papers taken from them.

Hamall Amiri, 27, of Kings Road, Chelsea, jailed for five years

Speaking little or no English, the victims did not suspect anything.

They were taken to addresses in the Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea areas where they were forced to work long hours and hand over a large percentage of their earnings, police said.

Once the victims realised they were in the UK illegally, the defendants threatened their exposure to the UK authorities to ensure they kept quiet and remained compliant.

They were also forced to pay off debts in excess of £30,000 by providing sexual services, as well as fund their accommodation costs.

In some cases they were convinced to have unprotected sex with clients to increase their popularity on the websites run by the gang.

A Proceeds of Crime hearing will take place in due course.

Rashid Ahmed, 68, of Blackberry Farm Close in Heston, was sentenced to six years