Sex den next to primary school
Two jailed over brothels as police raids continue
A brothel operating just yards from a Maidstone primary school and nursery has been shut down after a police raid.
Officers secured a closure notice at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court – the first time such an order has been granted in Kent under the Sexual Offences Act.
The action comes as a prostitution racket which saw women trafficked to work across the bor- ough concluded with the jailing of Lithuanian Romas Drulia.
Drulia tricked women into applying for fake jobs before seizing their passports and holding them as sex slaves. His partner in crime, Tomas Ziemys, was previously convicted of operating 10 brothels across Maidstone, Larkfield, Medway and London.
Judge Jeremy Carey commented: “This kind of sex trade is a blight on neighbourhoods.”
Seven women have also been arrested on suspicion of running establishments at two Maidstone addresses.
A brothel was operating just yards from a Maidstone primary school and nursery.
Police raided the house in Stagshaw Close, Maidstone, following complaints from residents.
Two women were arrested on suspicion of running the racket – in the same road as South Borough school and Little Stars pre-school – while five other women were arrested for the same offence at a property in Lower Boxley Road.
Officers served a closure notice which was granted following a case at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court last Friday.
It is the first time in Kent such an order has been granted under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
Now anyone apart from the owner who accesses the property in the next three months faces a fine or up to a year in prison.
Sgt Nick Hatcher, of the Maidstone Community Safety Unit, said: “This shows the effectiveness of neighbourhood engagement.
“Residents reported an issue to both the police and the local council and we have taken appropriate action.
“A closure order is not sought lightly but in this case the problems reported by the community were sufficient to
justify this course of action.
“The closure will prevent anyone other than the owner entering the property for a period of three months.
‘We will continue to actively work with partners to pursue orders on other properties if they are associated with ongoing incidents connected to sexual offences, anti-social behaviour or drug activity.
“My message to the residents of Maidstone is simple: if you have concerns about an address where antisocial behaviour or criminal activity is happening, please phone us.”
All those arrested have now been released while the investigation continues.