Sex trafficker flashes cash and dances after exploiting vulnerable woman

A sex trafficker who enslaved a vulnerable woman, beat her and stole her money filmed himself dancing with a stack of cash and throwing the bills into the air. Jean Marinel Mihai, 29, pocketed at least £100,000 over a period of 15 months as the woman was forced into sex work on the streets of Manchester.

Mihai had promised the woman a better life after she had suffered "years of physical and emotional abuse" in her native country of Romania. He flew her to Liverpool in December 2018, where he placed her in a guest house and made to work on the streets of Manchester.

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He appeared at Manchester Crown Court this week, where he was jailed for ten years after pleading guilty to modern slavery and exploitation, the MEN reports.

Following his sentencing, footage has been released by Greater Manchester Police showing the 29-year-old dancing around while he flashes notes to the camera. Dressed in a black T-shirt and jeans, Mihai can be seen bouncing up and down in front of a Christmas tree, holding the stack of cash above his head.

After bringing the woman to the UK and exploiting her, Mihai "took all of her money, (and) assaulted her on a number of occasions." His former girlfriend Florentina Urmez, whose family had abused the woman in Romania, also joined in the exploitation after she found out the woman had spoken to an outreach worker and found a new place to stay.

The victim was in the Strangeways area of Manchester in 2020 when a black SUV pulled up beside her and Urmuz got out. The mum-of-three then assaulted the other woman and forced her into the car. She was then driven to a house in Derbyshire, which was described as "another place in order for her to continue to be exploited".

Mihai, formerly of High Street, Slough, pleaded guilty to requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour and arranging or facilitating the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, and was sentenced to ten years in prison, Urmuz, formerly of Wilbraham Road, Sheffield, pleaded guilty to kidnapping, and was sentenced to six years.

'Victim endured years of abuse'

Detective Inspector Tony Platten, the Senior Investigating Officer at Greater Manchester Police, said: “I would like to commend the survivor for her incredible strength throughout this entire process, and for trusting us and our partners to get justice.

“She endured years of abuse and coercion by this group, forced to live in unimaginable conditions for so much of her life. They took extraordinary measures to conceal their illicit operation, but I am glad today to see that they will now face a considerable time behind bars, before they will be deported by our immigration colleagues.

“It is only through support of partners like MASH and Justice and Care that the survivor has had the opportunity to be supported and rebuild her life, which had been taken from her for so many years.

“In cases like this, we have seen victims threatened and suffering extreme violence as the criminals exert control. This is why tackling modern slavery is a high priority for Greater Manchester Police and dedicated partners who are embedded into our teams to ensure victims receive the very best care and support available and are safeguarded throughout.

“Modern slavery is happening right here in Manchester. We need the public and professionals to be aware of the signs to look out for and report any concerns.”

Debi Lloyd, European Programme Manager from Justice and Care, said: “This case demonstrates both how widespread the issue of modern slavery is in our communities, but also the need for brilliant policing and survivor care to bring those responsible to justice.

“We stand in awe and alongside our survivors, whose courage and evidence has led to this successful prosecution.

“We are proud to have worked alongside Greater Manchester Police on this case and will continue to provide support to all men, women, and children who are trapped in modern slavery, supporting them to walk free and rebuild their lives.”

Anyone with any information around modern slavery is asked to contact GMP by dialling 101 or via the Live Chat function on the website, www.gmp.police. Information can also be passed anonymously via the independent charity – Crimestoppers - on 0800 555 111. Always ring 999 in an emergency.

Alternatively, you can call the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline anonymously on 08000 121 700 to report or for information, advice and guidance about any modern slavery issue. Visit the website for more information: Modern Slavery Helpline