Woman given court order in religious group inquiry

A woman who was arrested in relation to alleged serious offences involving members of a religious group in Cheshire has been issued with an interim slavery and trafficking risk order by a court.

Vanessa Gardee Vega was detained in Middlewich on 20 July on suspicion of human trafficking offences and child neglect, according to Cheshire Police.

The 53-year-old Mexican woman was subsequently released on bail and appeared at Chester Magistrates' Court on Friday, where she was issued with a six-month slavery and trafficking order, the force said.

The terms of the order include that she cannot enter Crewe or contact the alleged victim.

She must also report her whereabouts to police, cannot apply for a passport for the duration of the order and had to hand over existing passport and travel documents, the force said.

Vega's arrest was part of an ongoing investigation which began in March, and also included a raid involving 500 officers at the headquarters of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL) in April along with other addresses in Crewe.

Cheshire Police said this followed allegations of serious sexual offences, forced marriage and modern slavery, claimed to involve members of the group.

Fourteen people have been arrested as part of the wider investigation, all of whom are currently on bail, a condition of which prevents them from entering Crewe.

AROPL, which moved to Crewe in 2021, was started by followers of Shia Islam at the start of the century but the group's beliefs have since been rejected by Shiism.

In a previous statement issued by lawyers, the group said they were "a peaceful open religion, widely recognised internationally as a new religion".

Det Insp Eli Atkinson said Cheshire Police were not investigating the religion, but solely the allegations against some of its members.

"I'd also remind residents that this remains a live investigation which will take some time, and I would ask that people do not speculate while the case remains ongoing," she added.

Following the raids, protesters began demonstrating nightly outside the group's headquarters, Webb House.

In June, nine people were arrested at what police called incidents of disorder at the protests.

Two men, Daniel Tsimbilakis and Jordan Kennerley, were later charged with various offences over the disorder.

Tsimbilakis, 34, of Barony Road, Nantwich, was charged with using threatening behaviour or words to cause alarm or distress, which was later dismissed at a hearing at Crewe Magistrates' Court.

He was fined £120 after admitting a charge of assault by beating and £80 for a separate offence of using threatening behaviour or words to cause alarm or distress, which he also pleaded guilty to.

Jordan Kennerley, of Badger Avenue, Crewe, who was charged with using violence to secure entry to premises, will go on trial at the magistrates' court on 11 May 2027 after pleading not guilty, and was given bail.

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