Leatherhead sex traffickers convicted

A couple who made more than a million pounds running a brothel empire have been convicted for sex trafficking.

Michael Dalton, 44, who lives in Kingston Road, Leatherhead, with partner Nikki Chen, 56, was found guilty of conspiracy to traffic people within the UK for sexual exploitation on Tuesday following a trial at Croydon Crown Court.

Chen had also admitted trafficking for sexual exploitation at an earlier hearing.

The pair ran four brothels, exploiting women they had trafficked from Asia to work in them. They made more than a million pounds running the brothels over a six year period.

A Metropolitan Police operation - codenamed Icefall - carried out a proactive investigation into the activities of Chen, Dalton, and others from October 2008 to July 2009.

Following raids on the premises in London and the Home Counties, police closed down four brothels.

Chen and Dalton both of Kingston Road, Leatherhead, have also been convicted of money laundering offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and control of prostitution for gain. Chen has already surrendered £250,000 and the amount Dalton is to repay will be determined at a future hearing. They will be sentenced on June 11 this year.

For full details of the case see next week's Leatherhead Advertiser.