Teen girl tells court how she was lured into prostitution by Vancouver man

The first of 11 teenage girls who were allegedly lured into prostitution by a Vancouver man told her story in B.C. Supreme Court Monday.

Reza Moazami is accused of 36 crimes in total, including human trafficking, sexual exploitation, sexual interference and living on the avails of a juvenile.

According to Crown prosecutors, Moazami allegedly controlled the group of girls, aged 13 to 19, forced them into prostitution, threatened and assaulted them.

None of the victims can be identified because of a publication ban.

The accused allegedly recruited local girls and offered them nice apartments in upscale neighbourhoods, gave them drugs, and promised them lots of money, the court heard.

The girls were also given lap dogs that were later used as tools to control them, the girl said.

According to the alleged victim, when she and a friend tried to leave, Moazami stepped on one of the dogs and threatened to break its neck.

That was the moment she knew she was in trouble, the court heard, and the two girls fled.

Although the girl only allegedly worked for Moazami for a couple months, she said she made between $40,000 and $60,000.

She was supposed to get half of her earnings, but never saw a cent, she said.

At times, Moazami allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted some of the young women, and he also allegedly attacked them when they disobeyed him, Crown prosecutors said.

The trial is expected to last around 15 weeks.

With files from Ted Cherneki and the Canadian Press