Swansea Man Jailed for Brothels Despite Fleeing Trial

A 24-year-old man has been sentenced to two years in prison for operating brothels in two Swansea houses, despite failing to appear for his trial at Swansea Crown Court this week 📱⚖️

Crisit-Denis Miclescu was convicted in his absence of keeping brothels at 48 Norfolk Street in Mount Pleasant and 2 Francis Street near Victoria Park between 2022 and 2023. Police discovered Romanian women providing sexual services at both properties and seized phones containing extensive text exchanges with clients.

Prosecution barrister Craig Jones told the court that phone evidence showed messages which “clearly advertised the provision of sexual services on a paid-for basis” including discussions of various sex acts and prices. The postcodes of both houses were “sent out hundreds of time to various contacts”, often with details of door colours and directions.

Financial investigators found £150,000 was credited to Miclescu’s six bank accounts between November 2021 and April 2023, whilst £9,940 was paid to a website hosting adult service adverts. The court also heard he had been buying condoms in bulk via Amazon for delivery to Norfolk Street.

When arrested, Miclescu claimed he had “no knowledge of the property being used as a brothel” at Norfolk Street and said whilst he knew some women at Francis Street were sex workers, he had “no control over what happened and did not gain financially from what went on”.

He was granted bail in October last year on condition he surrendered his passport, but hasn’t been seen since. A warrant for his arrest was issued in February and remains outstanding.

Last week, Robertina-Elena Iancu, 33, of High Street, Swansea, was formally found not guilty after the prosecution offered no evidence against her brothel-keeping charge.

Arrest warrants remain active for Florin Dumitru, 30, of St Helen’s Road, Swansea, and Cristina Cobsaru, 28, of Eastern Avenue West, London, who failed to appear at magistrates court last year on similar charges.