A Brazilian student living in Fife has admitted operating a sex ring across central Scotland.
Undercover police made appointments with prostitutes ‘Amazing Gabriella’, ‘Hot Sara’ and ‘Amazing Julia’ at various flats, rented by Jose Barbosa during their investigation.
Officers raided several properties in May and eight people were removed from them as part of ‘Operation Wolfberry’.
Barbosa admitted arranging and facilitating the movement of Adriana Fidaldo and others between addresses for prostitution, arranging and providing accommodation for prostitution, arranging advertising of prostitution and did thereby exercise control, direction or influence over their movements for the purpose of involving them in prostitution between 12th August 2013 and 15th May 2015.
The 44-year-old used properties Kirkcaldy, Dunfermline, Dundee, Perth, Hamilton, Stirling, Falkirk and Alva to run his prostitution ring.
He further admitted paying £150,852.32, made from his crimes, into banks accounts between the same dates.
The Brazilian national, who used various false names, had permission from the Irish state to remain there until next year as a student at Leinster College.
A deportation order has now been served on him.
He was living with his partner Ana Calder in Kirkcaldy at the time of his arrest and has been in custody since.
Barbosa, who appeared in the dock with a translator, was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on September 16 after reports.