Woman charged over sex ring that held teenage girls hostage
A woman has become the third person charged over an alleged Brisbane prostitution ring that held teenagers and women in sexual servitude.
(Photo: ABC)
A 23-year-old is charged with being involved in the group, which used stupefying drugs and tattoos signifying ownership on a group of young women.
Matthew James Markcrow, 35, and Crystal Marie Sawyer, also 23, appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court last week after four women were freed in raids in south Brisbane.
It will be alleged the women aged between 17 and 24 were kept in conditions of servitude and forced to partake in unlawful prostitution.
Queensland Police will further allege the women were given stupefying drugs and were subjected to controlled living, financial and work conditions and had been tattooed as being the property of the alleged offender.
After being freed, the women were referred to agencies for ongoing help.
Apart from Markcrow and Sawyer, the other woman is due to face court on Friday.
She’s been charged with conducting a business involving the servitude of a victim under the age of 18 and conducting a business of unlawful prostitution.
Police have urged anyone with more information about the ring to come forward after several witnesses and victims contacted police following last week’s raids.
-AAP
