GROOMING GANG LOCKED UP FOR 68 YEARS

A ROMANIAN grooming gang who sexually exploited ten vulnerable women and teens in Scotland leaving them “permanently damaged” has been jailed for 68 years, prompting renewed calls for a public inquiry into the scale of similar crimes across the country.

- Richard Elias and Connor Gordon

The sentencing came weeks after a Tory plan for just such an investigation was controversially rejected by both the SNP and the Scottish Greens.

During a six-week trial, a jury at the High Court in Glasgow heard appalling evidence of the cruelty inflicted on the victims. The offences all took place in Dundee between 2021 and 2022.

The gang regularly inflicted unprovoked beatings on the women and girls whilst they were forced to drink whisky and take crack cocaine to make them more compliant.

In one case, a 16-year-old victim was forced to climb a tree by the gang leader, Mircea Cumpanasoiu because she had not earned enough money.

Described in court as a "winking, smirking pimp", he later raped the girl along with another gang member.

Cumpanasoiu, 37, who was known as "Mario" was found guilty of 15 charges.

These included the rape of seven women, brothel-keeping and crack cocaine dealing.

He was jailed for 20 years and will be under supervision for four years upon his release from prison.

His co-accused, Christian Urlateanu, 41, Alexandra Bugonea, 35, Remus Stan, 35 and Cataline Dobre, 45, were also convicted.

Sentencing, Judge Lord Scott told them: "Over a 15-month period each of you participated in the serious sexual abuse and exploitation of vulnerable and mostly young women in the Dundee area.

"There were various reasons for their vulnerability including difficult family circumstances and use of drugs.