Drugged, tattooed, forced into prostitution: Australian couple accused of keeping women in sexual servitude

A person who allegedly kept multiple women as sex slaves in Queensland shared photographs on social media of tattoos which branded them as his property.

Matthew James Markcrow, 35, and his girlfriend Crystal Marie Sawyer, 23, appeared in Brisbane Arrests Court docket yesterday after police allegedly uncovered proof to help “sexual servitude and organised prostitution” throughout raids at Queensland properties this week.

Markcrow is dealing with 10 fees, together with conducting illegal prostitution, making recordings in breach of privateness and three counts of contravening an order about digital info.

He’s additionally dealing with a Commonwealth cost of conducting a enterprise involving sexual servitude of a lady beneath 18 between March 2019 and August 2019.

His associate, Sawyer, has been charged with two counts of contravening an order about digital info and one rely of conducting illegal prostitution.

Police allege a variety of ladies, aged between 17 and 24, got stupefying medicine, branded with tattoos and subjected to sexual servitude.

Additionally it is alleged the ladies have been subjected to managed residing, monetary and work circumstances.

On Fb, Markcrow has posted photographs of tattoos which seem like inked on completely different ladies that learn “Property of Matt M”.

Markcrow and Sawyer have been arrested after police carried out raids at properties in Mount Gravatt East and South Brisbane on Thursday.

Medicine and recordings of sexual acts have been allegedly uncovered by officers.

Whereas Markcrow has been remanded in custody, Sawyer was granted bail regardless of submissions from police that she “exerted management” over the ladies and issues she might have run the enterprise in her boyfriend’s absence.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Mark Hughes advised the courtroom Sawyer was current with the ladies on the deal with throughout one of many police searches.

“Throughout the course of the search warrant Sawyer said she was ‘like a mom’ to the opposite women,” Hughes mentioned.

“Police noticed different women adopted Sawyer’s management in the course of the search … she demonstrated a level of management over the opposite women.”

The courtroom heard that Sawyer refused to present police the passcode to a cellphone and laptop computer seized by police.

Hughes advised the courtroom Sawyer and Markcrow have been in a relationship and he or she had advised him she would “maintain the whole lot” when she noticed him within the watch home.

However defence lawyer Lily Berkeley mentioned there was no concrete proof that Sawyer had been concerned within the enterprise and the costs have been introduced “considerably prematurely”.

She mentioned her shopper might abide by strict bail circumstances, together with a no-contact order with any witnesses.

Justice of the Peace Stephen Courtney mentioned the costs towards Mackrow had a “significantly sinister flavour” however he wanted to give attention to Sawyer’s fees and what was earlier than the courtroom.

He granted her bail, with circumstances to not contact the witnesses and to report back to police twice every week.

Detective Inspector Juliet Hancock mentioned the Prostitution Enforcement Taskforce had acquired a tip off late final yr.

“This investigation remains to be ongoing,” she mentioned.

Hancock mentioned police have been investigating whether or not there have been any extra alleged victims and inspired anybody with additional info to return ahead.

Markcrow was remanded in custody on a return to jail warrant and can reappear in courtroom on February 24.