Sold like pizzas

1,000s of women exploited online on 'pimping websites

- DAVE BURKE

THOUSANDS of women are suffering sickening violence and exploitation in plain sight after being sold for sex online.

Many of them are advertised on "pimping websites" without their consent as criminals profit from their misery, an investigation by the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner Eleanor Lyons found.

One survivor told her: "I thought if I had tattoos, then if a buyer killed me, they'd at least be able to identify the body." Another victim added: "It's not acceptable that men can go out and buy women like pizzas... it affects society as a whole." Ministers have been urged to ban these platforms, which currently operate legally.