DETECTIVES should be praised for nailing two despicable individuals in Anastassios Papas and Graham Cochrane.

They face a total of 12 years behind bars for trafficking women into Oxford from Eastern Europe for the sex trade.

We applaud the strength of the women in having the courage to help police pursue the convictions and the judge in dishing out tough sentences.

But it has lifted the lid on a seedy underworld to which most city folk would have been completely oblivious.

Oxford Community Against Trafficking (Oxcat) says the case has opened people’s eyes to the issue.

Worryingly, it seems, this kind of problem is not confined to big cities like Manchester or Birmingham.

Places mentioned in connection with sex trafficking are Middle England.

Work has started to raise people’s awareness of the problem.

Hotel workers are being trained not to turn a blind eye.

It is something none of us should ignore – if you have concerns contact Oxcat through oxcat.org.uk or 07812997888.

It is shocking to think there may be many more women suffering in silence in our city.