Pair in court on sexual servitude charges

BRISBANE: A man and woman accused of drugging and recruiting women for sexual servitude and tattooing ownership on their bodies remain behind bars after facing a Queensland court.

Matthew James Markcrow (35) and Crystal Marie Sawyer (23) appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court yesterday charged after a fourmonth investigation into the alleged Brisbane prostitution ring.

Markcrow faces 10 charges, including conducting a business involving servitude, conducting unlawful prostitution, possessing drugs and tainted property, and breaching privacy.

It is alleged he was keeping several women aged between 17 and 24 in conditions of servitude of unlawful prostitution.

The prosecution will say the women were given stupefying drugs and subject to controlled living, financial and work conditions. They have also been tattooed as being his property.

Images on Mackcrow’s social media show four images of ‘‘property of Matt M’’ topped with images of a devil’s pitchfork and an angel halo.

Police also uncovered covert recordings of the females engaged in sexual acts with clients.

Mackcrow was remanded in custody on a return to prison warrant and will return to magistrates court on February 24.

Sawyer is charged with three offences, including conducting a business involving servitude.