New leads in sex trafficker hunt

Ismaili was sentenced to 14 years in his absence

Police trying to trace a man convicted in his absence of sex trafficking and blackmail say a television appeal has yielded a number of possible sightings.

Vladimir Ismaili, 32, formerly of Harnall Lane, Coventry, disappeared in 2006 ahead of a trial in which he and six others were jailed for 63 years.

Two Lithuanian women wanted to work in England but were taken to Coventry and Manchester as prostitutes.

Warwickshire Police are pursuing new leads after a Crimewatch appeal.

Det Ch Insp Adrian McGee said: "We will be looking at the intelligence that came in as a result of Crimewatch and following up the sightings.

"But we are still appealing for anyone who may know of the whereabouts of Vladimir Ismaili.

"His photograph is available on the Crimestoppers Most Wanted website and on the Crimewatch website."

Both girls were taken to a hotel in Coventry

Ismaili went missing in September but was sentenced to 14 years in prison at Manchester Crown Court with his co-accused in December.

The six men, from Albania, and a Lithuanian woman will be deported after serving their sentences.

The two victims, from separate villages in Lithuania, said they were told they could make money in England by working in bars or as cleaners.

They told the court they were driven to a hotel in Coventry and separated.

One woman, known as Roze, was taken to London where one of the offenders raped her twice.

While at his house she managed to ring her mother who contacted the Lithuanian authorities.

She was taken to a house in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, where she was told she was going to start work as a prostitute.

A few days later police arrested Ismaili and an associate.

The second girl, Daina, was taken to meet another trafficker who tried to persuade her to become a prostitute.

She was then handed over to some other men who drove her to Manchester and kept her prisoner.

However, she was later discovered by police and freed.