Leeds: Two men appear in court over sex trafficking

Mr Matthews’ lawyer, Shaid Iqbal, indicated his client would plead not guilty to all three offences, while Mr Imran Khan, representing Mr Fleet, has not entered an admission of guilt.

The offences are said to have taken place between November 2021 and April 2023 and related to the trafficking of women from Brazil, Paraguay and Spain for the purpose of sexual exploitation, the court heard.

Mr Matthews, of Bonnyrigg Road in Dalkeith, and Mr Fleet, of Queens Road in Kingsclere, were accused of controlling the activities of another person at various locations in the UK for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

Both men were granted unconditional bail ahead of their next court appearance.

As part of the bail conditions imposed by West Yorkshire Police, neither of them are allowed to visit any premises used for the purposes of prostitution.

Mr Matthews, who previously lived in Manchester, was also given permission to go on holiday to Dubai before his next court appearance.

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