Adina Mihai, 31, and Madalin Dumitru, 30, have each been sentenced to 17 years in prison for the manslaughter of two married men who died after being sedated with the potent drug gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) during sexual encounters. The couple, who previously lived in Birmingham before moving to Ilford, Essex, admitted the charges at an earlier hearing.
Deaths of Malcolm King and Gary Mouat
Oxford Crown Court heard that Mihai, who advertised sexual services on the website VivaStreet, and Dumitru, who drove her to victims' homes, targeted men who paid for sex. Four men were drugged with GBL-laced wine, allowing the pair to steal money and valuables. Two of the victims, Malcolm King, 80, of Bagendon, Gloucestershire, and Gary Mouat, 36, of Banbury, Oxfordshire, died as a result.
Mr King's body was found on 21 August 2024 by his housekeeper, who also discovered an empty wine bottle and two glasses. He had long-standing heart conditions and a pacemaker, which cardiologists used to determine the circumstances of his death. Mr Mouat, who ran the family glazing business, was found dead on 13 July by friends after his wife and son were away for the night.
Judge's remarks on reckless drug use
Sentencing the pair, Mrs Justice Brunner said: "Your joint intention was to incapacitate each victim making them deeply unconscious. The administration of the drug was haphazard and depended on the strength of each batch, the amount put into drinks, and the amount they drunk. This did not involve the administration of a fixed dose."
She added: "If you had done the most cursory research, you would know that GBL can be extremely toxic. You both could and should have researched open sources. It ought to have been obvious to you that administering a covert, uncontrolled dose of such a drug to strangers who you knew nothing about was a risk to their lives." The judge noted that their release date would be at least two-thirds of the sentence, but the 2026 Sentencing Act would change that to no less than half.
Pattern of offending and arrest
The court was told that Mihai collected cash deposits from victims before meetings, and Dumitru waited outside while she carried out the drugging and robbery. They targeted men they believed were wealthy, stealing watches, jewellery, aftershave, and cash, though the total value remains unknown. Two other victims, referred to as victims 3 and 4, were drugged and robbed in similar incidents.
The pair were arrested on 31 July after police stopped a BMW they were in. Items belonging to several victims were recovered, and Mihai's fingerprints were found on wine glasses at the men's homes. Two murder charges and charges of administering poison and conspiracy to steal were left on file after the guilty pleas.
Defence and police statements
Eloise Marshall KC, for Mihai, said the defendant recognised the "unbearable loss" she caused and that it "will always live with her." Gurdeep Garcha KC, for Dumitru, said the father-of-three had written to the court to "express his remorse" and offered an "unconditional apology" to all families.
Detective Inspector Michael Roddy, of Thames Valley Police, said: "Their offending was calculated, predatory and ultimately cost two innocent men their lives. Gary Mouat and Malcolm King were much-loved family members whose deaths have left lasting pain for those who knew them." Detective Inspector Adam Stacey, of Gloucestershire Police, added: "We believe there are more men out there who may have encountered Mihai in similar circumstances, and who were drugged and had possessions stolen from them. I would urge these men to contact police."
