A man and woman who trafficked young women from Brazil to London as sex workers have been jailed.

Shana Stanley and Hussain Edani, of Northolt Road in Harrow, were sentenced on Friday (August 27) following the investigation.

The women came to the UK expecting to take an English course that would last a few weeks, with their flights, passports, studies, and accommodation all paid for by the two.

However the women were later stopped from attending the courses and were exploited into working as sex workers to pay back the costs.

They served roughly between 15 and 20 clients a day, as they were ordered to make at least £500 a day.

Hidden cameras were installed in the victims’ rooms and the footage was used to threaten their families if they did not do what they were asked.

The women were also paid a weekly wage of £250 to £300.

Investigations wee launched after police were called to an address in south Harrow on March 22 last year and a woman revealed she was being kept as a slave and wanted to go back to Brazil.

That night, Stanley had an argument with one of the victims, and she took all of the victim’s money as well as her passport before threatening her.

The victim was able to call police and shout for help before she was pushed by Stanley and the call dropped – however the victim took pictures of Stanley on her phone before calling police back.

It was revealed that the victim was taking the English course in Manchester before she was called to London to meet Stanley, who told her she would have to sign a contract to “sell her body,” and if she did not sign it, she could not go back to Brazil.

On April 15 that year, officers searched Wembley addresses and arrested Edani and Stanley while seizing phones and documentations linked to the ‘businesses’.

Another victim – who was a UK national and a law student – became trapped in the scam after believing Edani and Stanley were modelling agents.

She moved to a flat in Wembley and was taken shopping for lingerie - which she believed was for a modelling shoot.

Later she was told she owed the two money and reluctantly agreed to be a sex worker, however she managed to leave in August 2019.

The ‘business’ was portrayed to be a legal escort agency and if the women chose to go beyond that, for example taking money for sex, it was outside their knowledge.

However, the court heard that not only were the victims working as sex workers with the defendants’ knowledge, but also at their direction and under their control.

Stanley, was sentenced to three years and seven months after pleading guilty to four counts of controlling prostitution and two counts of arranging travel for exploitation.

Edani was sentenced to eight years and tow months for four counts of controlling prostitution and three counts of arranging travel for exploitation.

Detective Constable Pete Brewster, the investigating officer, said: “Edani and Stanley lured their victims with false promises before manipulating them and exploiting them for their own financial gain. They had absolutely no regard for the victims or their wellbeing, including making them work long hours for very little in return – even when they were unwell. All they cared about was how much money they could make.

“The Met remains absolutely committed to doing all we can to protect women and girls, including those who are exploited by people like Edani and Stanley.

“Thanks to the courage and bravery of the victims, we were able to gather overwhelming evidence which resulted in Edani and Stanley having no option but to plead guilty, preventing them from harming others.

“The Met takes all reports of modern slavery extremely seriously and is committed to prosecuting those who engage in this pernicious crime. I would encourage anyone who has suffered from these kind of offences to contact police where they will be treated sensitivity and any allegations will be thoroughly investigated.”