SOLICITOR General Robert Buckland has increased the jail sentence for the first person to be convicted under the Modern Slavery Act by four years.

Josephine Iyamu organised the travel of five women from Nigeria to Germany for exploitation through prostitution.

The human trafficker demanded that her young victims pay her up to £35,000 once they started working in Germany.

She told them that she would put a voodoo curse on them if they didn’t do as she said.

Their traumatic journey involved spending days or weeks in transit houses, the rape of one of the victims, and being rescued from the Mediterranean sea after their boat broke down.

Iyamu was originally sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court in July, where she was given 14 years imprisonment.

Swindon MP Mr Buckland then successfully applied to increase her sentence.

Yesterday, the Court of Appeal extended it to 18 years.

He said: “Modern slavery exists in all societies, and respects neither borders nor jurisdictions.

“It has no place in a civilised society and the UK government is committed to tackling this abhorrent crime wherever it originates, working with our partners across the globe.

“The Court of Appeal’s decision today helps to show that crimes relating to human traffickingwill not be tolerated, regardless of where they’re carried out.”