Thomas Crossey, 56, from Belfast, allegedly used a vulnerable woman over a four-year period by providing her with drugs in exchange for sex, a court heard
A man arranged to have up to 25 other men pay him to sleep with a vulnerable woman in his flat, a court heard.
Thomas Crossey, 56, from Belfast, allegedly also used her over a four-year period by providing her with drugs in exchange for sex, it was claimed. Prosecutors also said he used a racial slur in describing how another woman would be “put to work”.
Crossey, of Henderson Avenue in the north of the city, denies charges of controlling prostitution for gain, human trafficking and causing someone to engage in sexual activity.
He faces further counts of false imprisonment and common assault related to an investigation launched last month. Refusing his application for bail, a judge described the alleged offending as vile and horrendous, BelfastLive reports.
The complainant, a 22-year-old woman addicted to cocaine and heroin, told police she escaped from Crossey’s flat on October 22 this year by biting him after he tried to prevent any exit.
She subsequently claimed he had coerced and sexually exploited her since they first met in 2021 when she was 18. In an account to detectives, she alleged Crossey organised taxis to bring her to his home where she was supplied with drugs in return for sex.
Crown counsel argued that in explicit phone messages the defendant referred to the woman as a “nurse” who also injected him with substances. Crossey was said to have made her wear various outfits and perform a number of different sexual activities at meetings two or three times a month over the four-year period.
“The complainant states she would stay for days at a time, being used for sex and given drugs,” the barrister submitted. The court heard she also suspects Crossey set up an escort profile under her name, using photos from a Facebook account.
He then allegedly received phone calls from random men who arrived at the flat and paid him £100 or £150 for her to go into the bedroom with them.
“If she didn’t, the defendant would not let her have any drugs, so she did it every time, faking a smile and doing what they wanted,” counsel said. “This happened 20 to 25 times with different men over the years.”
He argued that detectives can corroborate parts of the alleged victim’s account through phone messages Crossey sent her and other supporting evidence. At least two other women are believed to have attended the flat for similar purposes, according to the prosecution, including a black female who left before police arrived.
Mr Justice McAlinden was told Crossey allegedly used the racial slur “n*****” and discussed “putting her to work” in one of the messages. It was claimed his text also stated: “At least she gets on her knees and earns from punters.”
Searches of the flat where the defendant says he lives alone uncovered 11 phones, bottles of nail polish, a bank card in the name of the complainant, and medical or electoral cards in the name of other unidentified females, the court heard. A large kitchen knife and a hammer were said to have been found concealed under a pillow on the living room sofa.
Opposing bail, the prosecutor argued that the alleged victim is at a high risk based on her personality disorder and addiction to cocaine and heroin. “She also has her own issues with reading and writing,” he added.
Crossey’s lawyer told the court he vehemently denies the alleged offences and provided an account to police about how he knew the woman. Claiming inconsistencies in her account to police, the barrister submitted: “She also has very significant mental health issues, there are issues in respect of her credibility.”
The court heard Crossey receives housing benefits and does not lead the lifestyle of someone benefiting from the exploitation of young women.
“He had £17 in his bank account at the time of his arrest,” his lawyer added. “There have never been reports from neighbours about anything untoward in the flat where this man has lived for 27 years.”
Denying bail, however, Mr Justice McAlinden cited the risks of further offending and potential interference with the investigation. “It is quite vile offending, if it is established,” the judge stated.
“The use of a vulnerable young female for sexual gratification and buying those favours by feeding an addiction… It is quite horrendous to think about it, but it is simply an allegation at this stage.”
