Polish couple trafficked teenage girls to Britain and forced them to work as prostitutes for 20 hours a day
A Polish trafficking gang has been sentenced to a combined 27.5 years behind bars following a trial at Leeds Crown Court.
Three members of the criminal network received prison terms on Friday after being found guilty of modern slavery and prostitution offences.
The group exploited vulnerable women, bringing them to the United Kingdom and compelling them to sell sex for the gang’s financial benefit.
A fourth defendant was handed a community order rather than a custodial sentence.
The case centred on a husband and wife duo who orchestrated the operation, assisted by relatives who played supporting roles in the exploitation scheme.
Jurors delivered unanimous guilty verdicts against all four individuals in December last year following a trial that commenced in November 2025.
Investigators identified 14 victims ranging from 17 to 31 years old who had been targeted by the trafficking network.
These women were subjected to gruelling conditions, forced to work as prostitutes for up to 20 hours daily.
CCTV shows Timoszek handling cash at the Willow Avenue address
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WEST YORKSHIRE POLICE
Every penny earned by the victims was surrendered directly to the ringleaders, Mateusz Michniewicz and his partner Paulina Timoszek.
The couple resided in Grange Close, Hunslet, and enjoyed an extravagant lifestyle funded by their criminal enterprise.
They were seen driving high-end sports vehicles purchased with the proceeds of exploitation, the court was told.
Michniewicz’s cousin Mariusz Seretny and his wife Marta Seretny, who also lived at the Hunslet address, were found to have assisted in the prostitution operation in a supporting capacity.
Mariusz Seretny, 45, was jailed for five years
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WEST YORKSHIRE POLICE
Prosecutors brought charges against the four defendants in February 2023 for modern slavery and controlling prostitution offences.
However, both Michniewicz and Timoszek absconded from the country before they could face trial.
Police officers tracked down the pair and secured their extradition back to Britain, where they were held in custody awaiting proceedings.
The trial got underway at Leeds Crown Court in November 2025, with jurors hearing extensive evidence gathered during the investigation.
Key material included over 1,000 pages of social media communications that required translation from Polish to English.
Officers also obtained travel documentation showing flight and ferry bookings used to transport victims into the UK.
Mobile phones seized during the inquiry contained thousands of messages, images and videos, including passport details belonging to the exploited women.
Michniewicz received the heaviest punishment with a 15-year prison sentence, while Timoszek was handed seven and a half years.
The couple are said to have spent their earnings on a ‘lavish lifestyle’
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WEST YORKSHIRE POLICE
Mariusz Seretny, 45, was jailed for five years for his role in the conspiracy.
His wife Marta Seretny, 41, avoided prison and instead received a 12-month community order requiring 80 hours of unpaid work and five rehabilitation days.
Following sentencing, police urged the public to remain alert to signs of modern slavery, describing such offences as “truly abhorrent.”
Officers emphasised their commitment to pursuing those involved in exploitation and noted that this type of crime is “often hidden in plain sight.”
They encouraged anyone with suspicions about potential trafficking or exploitation to report their concerns immediately.
