Two women and a man have been jailed for sex trafficking offences in Swindon and South Wales.

At Swindon Crown Court today Leon Szeto, 41, of Reading, was jailed 18 months, Soi Leong, 40 , from China with no fixed address in Swindon, was jailed for 18 months and YunYun Wu a 37-year-old woman, again from China with no fixed address in Swindon, was jailed or nine months.

A recommendation for deportation at the end of their sentences will be made to the Home Office, in respect of Leong and Yun Yun, and asset confiscation orders, in the sum of £9,000 were also imposed.

On Monday June 23 Wiltshire had an annnymous phone call from a a person concerned for the welfare of a working girl by the name of Lili. Within hours officers had executed warrants in Swindon and South Wales and arrested seven people for a variety of offences.

Following in depth interviews with those arrested four people were subsequently charged. Leon Szeto, Soi Leong and YunYun Wu were charged with conspiracy to trafficking persons within the UK for the purposes of sexual exploitation.

Investigations by the then newly formed Serious Organised Crime Investigation Team identified two further premises that had been set up by Leong and Szeto as brothels in Cwmbran and Reading.

Further investigations also revealed that enquiries had been made by Leong and Szeto with letting agencies for premises in a number of other locations.

Detective Constable Amanda Carver from SOCIT said: “This is the first time this offence has been charged in Wiltshire. Countrywide it is also a very rare charge.

“It was the first case to be investigated by SOCIT and praise must go to all those involved including those people from our partner organisations.

“Girls in this trade find it hard to talk out or ask for help through fear of repercussions to either themselves or their families.

"We hope that this case will encourage others to come forward safe in the knowledge that Wiltshire police are committed to investigating any allegations received of this nature. These offences will not be tolerated."

DC Carver continued: “This investigation was triggered by anonymous information received from a caring ‘punter’ and has undoubtedly curtailed the existing operations of these convicted persons and stopped their expansion.

“It shows that Wiltshire police will act on such anonymous information and I urge other ‘punters’ who suspect that young persons are being used within the premises to contact either Wiltshire Police direct or Crimestoppers anonymously in order that we take the necessary steps to protect those involved and prosecute the offenders.

Detective Inspector Owen Gillard who heads up SOCIT said: “This operation is an example of how Wiltshire Police is using an Intelligence led approach to tackle organised criminality that is causing harm to our communities.

“The work has involved partnership work with our public, the UK Border Agency, and Operation Pentameter which is the national lead on people trafficking.

"My team now has thorough understanding of how these criminal networks operate and we are committed to eradicating them from Wiltshire.

“The message is very clear: if you are involved in people trafficking- expect a visit from us in the near future

"I would also ask the people who use these brothels to consider their actions. These women are victims and not willing participants. In most cases they are debt-bonded and forced to work in this way to pay off huge debts incurred as a result of being smuggled into the UK.”