A man accused of sex trafficking in Northern Ireland has been told by a Belfast judge he will not be able to return home to the Czech Republic.

Bronislav Rybensky has been denied permission to travel back to see his sick father, due to claims his alleged victims were living in fear.

The 31-year-old has an address at College Central Apartments in Belfast.

He was arrested in August 2011 as part of an operation against a suspected vice ring.

Six eastern European women were freed during raids on properties. It is thought they were brought to Northern Ireland for the purposes of working in the sex trade.

Rybensky will now face charges of trafficking for sexual exploitation, controlling prostitution and keeping brothels

He is already on bail, but his lawyer sought to have the temporary ban on his leaving Northern Ireland removed.

He is said to be keen to travel home to visit his sick father. Mr Rybensky’s defence told Belfast Magistrates’ Court the town he wanted to visit was far from Prague and so any potential witnesses would be some distance away.

District Judge Fiona Bagnall was told the defendant lives in Northern Ireland and works as a welder.

But the risk that he may not return for trial was decided to be too great. An electronic monitoring condition was lifted, however.

(IT)