Prostitution boss told to pay £45,000

Published on 11/07/2012 01:27

A SEX trafficker who controlled a prostitution network across the UK has been ordered to pay £45,000, the Crown Office said.

Stephen Craig, 35, from Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, was jailed for three years and four months last year for arranging travel, accommodation and 
advertising for 14 women.

His co-accused, Sarah Beukan, who is known as Ashleigh Beukan, was jailed for a year and a half for her part in the human trafficking scheme. Beukan, from Leith, was 22 at the time.

In the first case of its kind in Scotland, the pair admitted moving 14 people to various addresses in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff and Newcastle to work as prostitutes.

They were the first people to be convicted in Scotland under new legislation covering trafficking within the UK.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court yesterday, a confiscation order for £45,000 was made against Craig.

Lindsey Miller, head of the serious and organised crime division of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: “Stephen Craig took part in a criminal prostitution operation that spanned the United Kingdom. Today’s confiscation order for £45,000 represents the full amount which is available to us at this time from Stephen Craig.”