The main figure in a human sex trafficking ring which brought woman from Lithuania to Norfolk has been jailed for a total of 11 years.

Nerijus Lekecinskas, 33, of Meadowland Drive, Bradwell, was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court today after being found guilty earlier this month of controlling a person in prostitution for gain, trafficking within the UK for sexual exploitation and one count of rape. He was found not guilty of another count of rape.

Joining him in the dock was Skirmantas Kvedaras, 47, of no fixed address but formerly of Issacs Road, Great Yarmouth, who was jailed for six years, after earlier being found guilty of one count of rape and not guilty of another.

The sentences follow a lengthy-investigation launched in December 2009 by Norfolk Constabulary's Vulnerable Persons' Directorate after a Lithuanian woman raised concerns to police in London about people trafficking by a group based in Great Yarmouth.

The investigation, codenamed Operation Feed, led to a number of warrants being carried out at homes across Great Yarmouth on October 13 last year.

More than 40 police officers were involved in raids in South Yarmouth, Cobholm and Bradwell, which led to the arrest of the prime suspect Lekecinskas and seven others.

In June a 34-year-old man and 24-year-old woman, arrested as part of the investigation, were dealt with for their involvement in arranging scam marriages.

For full story see tomorrow's paper.