A BOURNEMOUTH man acted as a ‘pimp’, controlling prostitutes and profiting from their sex work, it is alleged.

Oliver Jovanovic is facing trial at Bournemouth Crown Court for controlling prostitution for gain and arranging the travel of a person with a view to exploit.

His cousin, Sebastian Jacimovic, is also facing trial for assisting Jovanovic with arranging the travel of sex workers.

Prosecuting, Nick Tucker, opened the case on July 9 and argued Jovanovic had been acting as a ‘manager’ of three prostitutes by arranging their appointments and travel, while taking a cut of the pay.

It was said Jacimovic, who lives in Liverpool, visited Bournemouth for a short period in 2022 and was “enlisted” to help his cousin with transport.

The court also heard a third man is believed to be involved and possibly employed by the defendant however, his whereabouts are currently unknown.

After six months of police surveillance, from January to June 2022, properties where the sex workers lived were searched in Old Christchurch Road and Holdenhurst Road.

The defendants address, in Windham Road, was also raided where mobile phones were seized.

Mr Tucker said it is undisputed that the three women were sex workers and were reportedly sending money home to their families in another country.

Analysis of their phones showed the women used a prostitution website to advertise their services.

Under the pseudonyms of Eva, Alice and ‘Natural Girl’, the sex services were offered in Bournemouth and Wakefield, in West Yorkshire.

Their phones revealed text messages to customers as well as correspondence with the defendant in the early hours of the morning.

Mr Tucker argues the messages relate to the defendant picking the sex workers up from their appointments, with some texts saying, “come outside and give me the money”.

At midnight on May 2, 2022, the defendant sent a string of messages to his cousin saying he is “in the s***” and needs him to drive the women to Wakefield.

“Yo bro I need you to leave tonight please with the girls,” said the defendant.

Jacimovic replied: “Say no more, I’ll be ready.”

Using phone mast data, the police established the women did not return to Bournemouth until May 11, 2022.

During his police interview, the defendant admitted to sometimes picking the women up because he was concerned for their welfare but denies profiting from their work.

When Jacimovic was interviewed he said he drove the women to Wakefield as a favour to his cousin but was unaware they were prostitutes.

Oliver Jovanovic, 31 and of Suffolk Road in Bournemouth, and Sebastian Jacimovic, 29 and of Garway in Liverpool, deny the charges.

The trial continues.