PROSECUTORS have abandoned the case against a man and a woman who were accused of "controlling prostitution" and modern-day slavery offences.

Ben Dumitru, 25, and Alexandra Madalina  Dumitru, 22, had each denied five charges relating to an alleged prostitution operation that prosecutors say was run from a series of hotels and bed and breakfast establishments. Some were allegedly in Carlisle.

But at the city’s crown court, a prosecution barrister outlined how police attempted to investigate a claim that somebody had requested a £5,000 payment from the defendants after they were charged.

It was confirmed that the call in which the request was made had come from the area in Scotland where the alleged victim’s family live. The alleged victim has also refused to undertake a “voice recognition test,” the court heard.

Prosecutors had therefore concluded that this had undermined the woman’s credibility to the point where there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.

Judge Michael Fanning directed that not guilty verdicts should be recorded for both defendants. He also expressed scepticism about the merits of a prosecution request for restraining orders to ban the defendants from contacting the alleged victim, identified only as a woman who at the time was aged 18.

She can not be named for legal reasons.

Both defendants have been held in custody since they were charged. The charges they have now been cleared of were:

* That both defendants held a named female in a state of “slavery and servitude”.

* That the defendants required the alleged victim to perform “forced or controlled labour” in circumstances where they each knew that the person – the same named female – was being forced to perform such labour.

* That both defendants arranged or facilitated the travel of another person with a view to exploitation.

* That both defendants “caused or incited prostitution” and they did so for the purposes of exploitation and making a gain for themselves.

* And that the defendants had “controlled prostitution for gain” for themselves or a third party.

Court records show that Mr Dumitru previously lived at an address in Carlisle.

After legal discussions, Judge Fanning ordered the release of both defendants, whose address has been given as Eustace Road, London. The judge asked the prosecutor to put in writing any application for restraining orders on both acquitted defendants.

Mrs Dumitru was represented by defence lawyer Jeff Smith, while Mr Dumitru was represented by barrister Brendan Burke.