Police ScotlandThe sentencing of a Romanian grooming gang for trafficking and raping ten vulnerable women in Dundee has been delayed.
Marian Cumpanasoiu, 37, Remus Stan, 34, Catalan Dobre, 44, Cristian Urlateanu, 41, and Alexandra Bugonea, 34, were found guilty last month following a six-week trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
Lord Scott had deferred sentencing on the five until Tuesday, February 18, but he adjourned the case and called for full risk assessments to be carried out on Cumpanasoiu and Urlateanu.
This could eventually see both or either hit with an Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR).
The judge reminded Cumpanasoiu that he had been found guilty of ten rape charges involving seven of the women and Urlateanu guilty of six counts of rape.
Lord Scott said ordering a risk assessment does not “tie my hands” in how he deals with the criminals.
“It remains possible extended sentences will be imposed,” he said.
“If that is the case, significant custodial sentences will be necessary – well into double figures.
“All options are kept open until I see the reports.”
The gang of five will next appear in Edinburgh on May 13.
Their victims included a woman who was trafficked into prostitution and forced to have sex with men.
A number of the women became addicted to crack cocaine and were blackmailed into sex.
Ringleader Cumpanasoiu, known as Mario, was convicted of 15 charges including raping seven women.
One victim was gang-raped by Urlateanu, Stan and Dobre.
Urlateanu was convicted of nine charges including the rape of four women.
Bugonea was Cumpanasoiu’s partner and worked as a prostitute. She denied the victims visited the flat in Dundee due to their drug issues and claimed she thought they were her friends.
“I cannot believe that they would put me in this position,” she said.
She was convicted of being part of the rape of one woman and illegal sexual activity with another.
Stan was convicted of the rape of three of the women and drug dealing.
Dobre was guilty of the rape and abuse of four victims.
Prosecutor Lisa Gillespie KC said: “Perfect people living perfect lives do not normally end up as witnesses at the high court.
“They were vulnerable women that the group took advantage of.
“Women who became drawn deeper into addiction due to their association with them.”
Urlateanu, Bugonea and Dobre went on the run while awaiting trial.
The first two were eventually traced in Belgium before being extradited back to Scotland in 2024.
Dobre was found in the Czech Republic. He had initially challenged being brought back to the UK.
“This was an appalling catalogue of rape, serial sexual abuse and exploitation of extremely vulnerable, mostly, young women,” the judge said.
“Be in no doubt, you will spend a considerable period of time in custody. I will be imposing significant sentences.”
Prosecutors have moved for Trafficking and Exploitation Prevention Orders to be imposed on Cumpanasoiu and Stan.
These mean a criminal is effectively banned from a range of activity as well as other possible restrictions.
All five remain in custody meantime.
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