Locations
Money Lane, West Drayton, Middlesex, UB7 & Rutherwyk Road, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16
Description
Diane Chilcott, 40, and 21-year-old Daniel Pusey plied vulnerable victims with cigarettes and alcohol before driving them to hotels, where they were sexually exploited and abused
A man and woman have been sentenced to a combined total of 19 years' imprisonment after being found guilty of their roles in the sexual exploitation of teenage girls.
Daniel Pusey, 21, of Money Lane, West Drayton, and Diane Chilcott, 40 of Rutherwyk Road, Chertsey, were handed sentences of 13 years and six years respectively at Portsmouth Crown Court on Monday (December 18).
They were found guilty in November of several counts of facilitating travel to exploit vulnerable teenage girls in Surrey.
In April 2017, Pusey was also convicted of seven offences of sexual activity with a child in connection with the case.
Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Richard Haycock, from Surrey Police's Complex Abuse Unit, said: "The bravery shown by those exploited throughout the entire process is highly commendable.
"I hope the sentencing of these two individuals brings some level of closure to the victims.
"This was calculated exploitation of young teenage girls. These individuals clearly knew what they were doing, supplying the victims with alcohol to make them even more vulnerable to sexual abuse.
"The offenders knew how old the girls were but continued to exploit them on a number of occasions.
"I commend the victims for their bravery in speaking to authorities and seeing the legal process through to the end. This has been a long and difficult journey for them."
The pair worked together to lure and sexually exploit girls at hotels across north Surrey and west London in January and February 2016, Surrey Police said.
The victims, who were aged between 13 and 15 at the time, were plied with alcohol and cigarettes at Chilcott's house before being driven to hotels in Staines, Twickenham, Tolworth and Heathrow by Pusey or herself.
At the hotels they would continue to be given alcohol and cigarettes before some were subjected to sexual abuse by Pusey.
DI Haycock added: "If anyone is, or has been, in a similar situation, or has concerns about any child - I urge you to please come forward and tell someone who can help you.
"Specialist officers worked closely with social services and police colleagues in London to investigate this case.
"The police are also continuing to work with the hotel industry through the Operation Makesafe initiative to ensure their staff are alert to possible warning signs of children at risk.
"If you work in a hotel and come across a situation involving a child that looks or feels suspicious, talk to your supervisor and contact the police on 101 quoting Operation Makesafe.
"Dont ignore your gut feeling that something is not right. Say something if you see something."