Ethan Cruz has been hit with an Order for Lifelong Restriction (Image: Spindrift) × Group 28 Get the latest Scottish crime and courts news sent straight to your inbox with our daily Criminal Record newsletter Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign Up No thanks, close We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. More info × Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice A former soldier kicked out of Prince Harry's
Invictus Games after being exposed for forcing two lovers into sex work has been handed a life sentence. Ethan Cruz terrified the
Women who had promising careers before they met the 41 year-old. He regularly made them perform seedy webcam shows for paying punters at his flat in Glasgow city centre. One was eventually forced into prostitution having sex with up to 15 men a day while Cruz raked in the cash. Cruz told jurors the pair got had got involved on their own free will. He said they had known of his own previous work in the adult entertainment industry and how it earned him stays in £4,000-a-night hotel suites and trips to Monaco. Read More Related Articles Tortured teen's killers soon to all be free as fourth murderer due for release Read More Related Articles Man makes 700-mile round trip to
Scotland to buy favourite make of barbecue Cruz had been due to be part of the
UK team at the Invictus Games for injured
MILITARY personnel in
Toronto in 2017. But he lost his place when these allegations emerged. Cruz was today back in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow, more than 18 months after he was convicted by jurors. He was found guilty in September 2021 of intentionally causing both women to participate in sexual activity without consent. Cruz was further convicted of assaulting both to the danger of their lives as well as two charges of threatening and abusive behaviour. The offences occurred between September 2014 and August 2016. A series of hearings - including evidence from doctors - had taken place since the trial, as judge Lord Summers considered whether to impose an Order for Lifelong Restriction. Cruz's lawyers - lead by defence KC Gary Allan - had argued against doing so. But, Lord Summers today hit Cruz with the OLR and ordered he serve a minimum four years in jail. The judge stated: "I am satisfied that, in the balance of probabilities, the risk criteria has been made out. (A doctor who met with Cruz) stated the psychopathy is amongst the highest that she has encountered. I am satisfied that the risk you pose is such that it is necessary to make you subject to an OLR." Cruz - formerly of the Royal Regiment of Wales - remains on the sex offenders list. He met the first victim on a dating site. She was a university student at the time. She soon suffered at his violent hands including on a trip to the Lake District and a holiday at a caravan park in Ayrshire. Cruz raised the idea of the woman flaunting herself online for money. She refused - but Cruz soon rigged up laptops and cameras at his flat in Glasgow's Renfield Street described as a "venue for sexual exploitation". The woman felt her thug lover gave her no option. He ordered her to: "Sit there and look pretty." He got her to buy skimpy outfits before she ended up regularly degrading herself for "paying customers" on the web. The woman - who was cut off from family and
Friends - said: "I felt I had no option. I was trying to survive. I did not want any trouble." Read More Related Articles Sheku Bayoh's behaviour before custody death linked to 'drug intoxication' Read More Related Articles Scots conman who posed as nurse and stole £130k in funeral fraud scheme struck off If she said no, burly Cruz assaulted her including choking the woman. He also kept control of any money and bank accounts. The woman eventually escaped his clutches when a concerned friend encouraged her to go to the police. By this time, Cruz was dating the second victim who he had also met online. She had a promising career with an energy company and had been successful in sports when younger. Cruz also soon controlled her and profited from her via the seedy webcam shows. The court heard she was the victim of "frightening explosions of anger" if she protested. As well as being physically attacked, Cruz threatened her parents, gran and even the family dog. One sinister message warned: "Never dance with the devil". Another stated her dad would soon see his "people in action". The woman was eventually made to travel within the UK to have sex with between 10-15 men a day for cash. When she complained, Cruz told her: "You are f***ed. Just wait, you selfish c**t". In his evidence, Cruz, of the city's Cranhill, denied forcing or blackmailing the women. He reckoned the victim may have been "attracted" by the money he earned from sex work, which is thought to also include porn films. Cruz claimed this had seen regularly stay in expensive suites at London's Dorchester Hotel and trips to Monaco paid by clients. Prosecutor Paul Kearney KC put to him: "So your position is that these two women after meeting you decide, for some reason, to get involved in this line of work?" Cruz: "Yes." Top news stories today Couple accused neighbours of child abuse Ecstasy death mum wants debate on drugs Baby 'blind' in eye as squint was
cancer Body of man, 46, found on Scots coast Mr Kearney: "Both of them ended up in a
police station speaking about pretty hellish times with you." He replied: "That is what they say." The advocate depute said if Cruz was right, one of the women gave up a career to "travel the country on her own free will to have sex with up to 15 strangers a day". Mr Kearney later told jurors Cruz's claims "absolutely boggled the mind". Cruz first appeared in court in 2016 prior to his planned appearance at the Invictus Games. A previous hearing a year later heard how the army veteran was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome due to what he had witnessed in the army. Cruz had previously been the subject of a restraining order for a charge of battery at court in Surrey. Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here . READ NEXT: Crime clan boss Steven 'Bonzo' Daniel attends Rangers matches with rapist nicknamed Hannibal the Cannibal Prince Harry's 'moment of sadness' as King Charles passed him by during coronation Telling Royal balcony moments from Camilla's impatience to Louis' hint Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow Daily Record
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