Red-faced councillor caught in police raid on brothel

A COUNCILLOR was discovered inside a brothel “covered in lipstick” when police were carrying out a search, a court heard.

Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard yesterday that a warrant was executed by police on May 8, 2015, at a property in a residential area of the town. The property in Regent Street, Dowlais, had been used as a brothel for around a year.

Leon Hall, 36, appeared in the dock for sentencing after previously pleading guilty to one count of keeping a brothel used for prostitution.

The court heard the father-of-three previously worked in the construction industry and had “reasonably well-paid” employment.

Christopher Rees, prosecuting, said police searched the property, run by Hall, in May 2015.

The court heard that a man called Brent Carter was inside the property. Mr Rees said Mr Carter arrived at the property, where the door was answered by a woman.

They both went inside and within a few minutes police had also entered the property.

Mr Rees told the court Mr Carter was “covered in lipstick”.

Speaking of the general use of the brothel, Mr Rees said: “Neighbours described seeing men arriving there all hours of the day and night and described hearing sexual activity at the address.”

As part of the investigation, around £4,000 in cash was also recovered from a separate property in Beacon Heights, Merthyr Tydfil, which was stored in shoeboxes.

“Nine Regent Street was a brothel being used by a number of women to sell sexual services”, Mr Rees said.

“Mr Hall [was] taking a fee in relation to the work undertaken by the ladies – about a third.”

Hall, of Heathland Way, Llandarcy, Neath, was sentenced to 10 months, suspended for a year, and ordered to complete 180 hours’ unpaid work.

Coun Carter, a Welsh Labour councillor for the Plymouth ward on Merthyr Tydfil council, did not wish to comment when contacted.