Shame all round in seedy brothel saga

The tawdry goings-on behind the curtains of a luxury Fife flat show that Scotland’s illicit sex trade is not confined to the “red light zones” of the country’s major cities.

Chin Chih Chang’s conviction came about after a court case which was desperately seedy and exceedingly sad.

A string of men were eager to use the services of girls in the flat, perhaps staying within the bounds of what is legal but surely going beyond what is morally-defensible.

While Chih Chang has been found guilty of her involvement in events, her continued denials mean we do not know the motivation behind them.

It remains unclear whether she was acting on her own initiative or under a level of coercion.

The fact she sent much of her ill-gotten gains abroad could be telling.

Whether the cooperation of the girls under her instruction was entirely willing is also highly doubtful.

No indication as given about where they came from – or their current circumstances.

The reality of the sex trade is that it is a far cry from any glamorised silver screen portrayal.

The women involved are invariably caught in a trap involving poverty, drugs, trafficking or a combination of all three.

Those who fuel it should be as guilty as the people who pay the eventual price.