Brothel exposed after police break in to padlocked f lat

THE LAW SAYS ...

selvey@thekmgroup.co.uk When police raided a flat in Ashford after a tip-off, suspicions that it was being used as a brothel were confirmed.

Officers found more than 116 condoms, lingerie, baby oil, a diary containing telephone numbers and £515 at the premises, a court heard.

A prostitute was also in a bedroom with a client.

Prosecutor Martin Yale told Maidstone Crown Court that police officers went to the basement flat – at the rear of the Seekers Letting Agency in New Street, Ashford – on October 15 last year and found a tall gate with a padlock on it.

Nobody came to the door so the padlock was cut off.

A man called Yu Liu was on a mobile phone in the hallway.

He said he had recently moved there from Birmingham.

Liu was jailed for six months after admitting keeping a brothel for prostitution.

He was due to be freed, having served the sentence on remand.

The prosecution accepted the 22-year-old’s basis of plea he had been working at the house in 13 New Street for 10 days and was paid £232 a week, with free lodgings.

Liu added he that took telephone calls and opened the door to customers. He was also responsible for banking the profits. He told officers that none of the four women who

worked at the

What do you think? Write to Kentish Express, 34-36 North Street, Ashford, TN24 8JR or email kentishexpress@thekmgroup.co.uk brothel at different times did so against their will.

He would give them half of the amount they earned.

James Ross, defending, said Liu came from a poor family in China and a rich uncle provided £15,000 for him to come to the UK to study English. Afterwards, he had a variety of jobs. After injuring his back in a warehouse he helped to manage the brothel.

Judge Martin Joy told Liu: “Keeping a brothel and being involved in the management of a brothel is a serious offence and only a custodial sentence is appropriate.”

Prostitution, ie the exchange of money for sexual services, is legal. However, a number of activities relating to it are illegal.

It is illegal to solicit for sex in a public place.

It is illegal to run a brothel or to control prostitution for financial or other gain.

It is illegal to solicit another person for sex in a public place.

It is illegal to place adverts relating to prostitution in telephone boxes – however, it is not illegal to advertise such services in a newspaper.

Anyone aged under 18 who is involved in prostitution will be treated as a victim of abuse in law.

‘For keeping a brothel only a custodial sentence is appropriate’

A flflat flat behind the Seekers Letting Agency in New Street, Ashford, was being used as a brothel

A diary with phone numbers, lingerie, condoms and cash were among items found at the flat