A CO Down pensioner who pimped out vulnerable female heroin addicts for sex with other men across Belfast has been jailed for 18 months.
But with over two-and-a-half years already spent on remand, the court heard Kenneth Harvey (73) has effectively served the prison element of his sentence and will now spend 18 months on supervised licence with the Probation Board on his release from custody.
Harvey, formerly of Killynure Road in Carryduff, appeared via videolink from Maghaberry Prison.
He previously pleaded guilty at Belfast Crown Court to six counts of human trafficking and three counts of paying for sexual services.
He further admitted three counts of controlling prostitution for gain, attempting to pay for sexual services and causing or inciting prostitution for gain.
Charges of rape and sexual assault were left on the books and are not to be proceeded with without the leave of the Crown Court or the Court of Appeal.
All of the offences were committed on dates between March 2015 and March 2021.
It was the prosecution case that Harvey exploited two young women by driving them to encounters at locations in Belfast and pocketed some of their earnings.
On some occasions the pair were so under the influence of drugs that they could hardly lift their heads.
One of the victims was so intoxicated with drugs she fell asleep and stayed overnight at Harvey’s Housing Executive property in Carryduff.
The court heard both victims were heroin addicts and used the money they obtained for sexual services to feed their drug habit.
One victim told police how she met Harvey in the Bankmore area of Belfast. He drove her to his home where he paid her £50 for sexual services before transporting her back to Belfast City Centre.
According to the prosecution case, Harvey collected the vulnerable women in his car and took them to the Antrim Road in north Belfast and the Giant’s Ring site in the south of the city.
At these locations other men paid for sex with them and Harvey took a cut of the money.
Judge Kerr said: “Human trafficking is a serious matter and a significant custodial sentence is necessary.”
A pre-sentence report compiled by the Probation Board determined that Harvey was assessed as not posing a danger to the public in the future.
Prosecution counsel Charles MacCreanor KC said he was formally applying to the court for a Human Trafficking Order (HTO).
Defence counsel Greg Berry KC said Harvey’s licensing conditions would provide “sufficient protections” for the future.
Following legal submissions on the HTO, Judge Kerr said he was declining to make the order sought by the prosecution.