A MEMBER of a human trafficking gang that forced vulnerable Czech women to become sex slaves has been jailed.

Ivan Gujda, 38, of Albany Road, Chatham, admitted being part of a ring which brought two women into the UK in June after persuading them to take part in sham marriages in the Republic of Ireland.

The victims were then forced into prostitution and were driven to brothels throughout England by Gujda and his accomplices Martin Brusch, 31, of no fixed address and Dusan Horvat, 37, from Folkestone.

The women's plight was discovered on June 24 whilst they were in Maidstone, after one victim persuaded a hotel manager to call police.

Gujda admitted two charges of human trafficking for sexual exploitation within the UK and was sentenced to three years in prison.

Brusch and Horvat pleaded guilty to the same charges and also to two of trafficking women into the UK for sexual exploitation.

Both were sentenced to ten years in prison.

DC Alison Howland of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: "The result brings a conclusion to the end of many months of hard work.

"This was a complex case with significant enquiries being carried out in Ireland, the Czech Republic as well as the UK.

"I would like to thank the authorities in both these countries who have given us fantastic co-operation, enabling us to gather significant evidence against the offenders, which undoubtedly led to their guilty plea.

"I would also like to thank the victims for coming forward and giving us their vital testimonies, which enabled us to bring this group to justice and prevent other women from falling prey to this trafficking ring.

"This has been an excellent example of working together to protect victims from this vile trade."