3PB Criminal barrister Jane Rowley represents one of 5 men in major North East trafficking case (Operation Wren)
28th September 2017
Jane Rowley was Lead Defence Counsel for one of 5 men accused of trafficking for sexual exploitation, sexual activity with a child, conspiracy to facilitate the prostitution of children and the supply of drugs, in R v Asad and others (Operation Wren) Newcastle Crown Court 2017.
The trial arose as a result of Operation Sanctuary/Wren which was one of the largest police investigations into the sexual exploitation of vulnerable girls/women ever mounted in the UK. The case involved groups of men inciting girls as young as 13/14 to properties in the north east where drugs and alcohol were made available to them in exchange for sexual services.
The Defendant was acquitted on two counts of conspiracy to arrange/facilitate the prostitution of a child, and one count of paying for the sexual services of a child
For more information on the case, please click here and here for the verdicts.
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