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Home / World

Alleged sex slave ring mastermind Matthew James Markcrow to fight charges

news.com.au
15 Mar, 2021 12:51 AM3 mins to read

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The tattoos that allegedly show the man's name on the women. Photos / Supplied

The tattoos that allegedly show the man's name on the women. Photos / Supplied

An Australian man accused of drugging and branding women he allegedly kept as sex slaves will fight his charges, his lawyer has confirmed.

Matthew James Markcrow, 35, faces more than 20 charges relating to the alleged sexual slavery ring uncovered in Brisbane.

He has spent the past month behind bars on remand after police searched two properties in South Brisbane and Mount Gravatt East.

Crystal Marie Sawyer is charged with carrying on a business of prostitution. Photo / News Corp
Crystal Marie Sawyer is charged with carrying on a business of prostitution. Photo / News Corp

Three other women – Crystal Marie Sawyer, Hannah Christina Stead and Taylor Rose Wyatt-Godbolt – have also been charged over the alleged sex ring.

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During a brief mention on Monday, Markcrow's defence lawyer Michael Gatenby asked for a lengthy adjournment to get further instructions from his client.

Prosecutors asked for a brief to be delivered on May 10.

Outside of court, Gatenby told NCA NewsWire his client would be contesting the charges.

"At the moment he's certainly intending to contest them and look into the validity of the allegations by the various people," Gatenby said.

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"He seems to be travelling well while in custody, he's looking forward to resolving these matters."

Markcrow will return to court on May 31. No application for bail was made.

Disturbing photos allegedly posted to Markcrow's Facebook profile display multiple tattoos of "Property of Matty M." on the bodies of women.

Police allege multiple women, some as young as 17, were drugged and forced into prostitution and "sexual servitude".

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It is further alleged the women were branded with tattoos and subjected to controlled living and financial conditions.

Four women were allegedly discovered by officers at the Mount Gravatt East property during the search in early February but more have come forward since then.

The tattoos that allegedly show the man's name on the women. Photos / Supplied
The tattoos that allegedly show the man's name on the women. Photos / Supplied

Markcrow, 35, initially faced 10 charges, including conducting unlawful prostitution, making recordings in breach of privacy and three counts of contravening an order about electronic information.

An additional 13 charges were laid last month, including six counts of conducting a business involving servitude, two counts of attempting to conduct a business involving servitude, one count of grievous bodily harm, and four counts of supplying dangerous drugs.

Stead faces charges of conducting a business involving servitude and unlawful prostitution.

Wyatt-Godbolt, 24, is charged with knowingly participating in the provision of a prostitution service and using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend.

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Sawyer, who is charged with carrying on a business of prostitution and contravening a police order will appear in court on March 31.

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