Living off immoral earnings? We only took £18.50 last week!
TWO men accused of being pimps have been sensationally cleared – because the hookers they employed were too UGLY to make them any money.
Jeremy Brockenhurst and Sam Hartberg faced five charges each of living off immoral earnings when they appeared in court last week.
But their defence argued the prostitutes who operated out of the run- down terraced house in Crewe, Cheshire, were so ghastly that hardly any punters turned up!
And in the week before the raid, the pair of would- be whoremasters took just £ 18.50!
Cleaners
When authorities raided the premises, which advertised as the Happy Knocker Sauna and offered a “no rush” service, they thought the women inside were cleaners.
One investigator told the court: “The women inside were… matronly, to be polite. We could hardly believe that anyone would pay to have sex with them.
“But it soon emerged that the women were, in fact, employed as prostitutes, albeit under- employed ones.”
Unusually, the five prostitutes who were caught working at the Happy Knocker were also charged. Betty Finch, 55, Carol Grattocks, 40, Joan Grant, 60, Edna Collins, 44, and Wanda Yates, 70, were all charged with the little- known offence of soliciting to the public annoyance.
But prosecutors withdrew charges at the 11th hour, and the five were all formally released, leaving just Brockenhurst and Hartberg standing in the dock.
John King, defending, told the court: “My clients stand accused of living off immoral earnings. But the fact is that their enterprise only took £ 18.50 last week.”
To laughter from the court, Mr King added: “We are unsure at this moment who only gave the 50p.”
He continued: “It would be a travesty if my clients were convicted of living off immoral earnings when it is clear they were not making a living from these women’s efforts.
“In fact, once they had paid expenses on the property – such as electricity, gas and council tax – they were actually running at a loss.
“If my clients are to be accused of being brothel keepers, they are the most incompetent brothel keepers ever to face the court system.
“And incompetence is not a crime in English law.”
Judge Marion Phelps told the jury that the case they faced was “highly unusual” and that the defence arguments “had some merit”.
The judge took just 30 minutes to unanimously clear Brockenhurst, 65, and Hartberg, 70.
Wasted
Outside court, Hartberg stormed: “Many tens of thousands of pounds of public money have been wasted on this case.
“Yes, we tried to make a living as massage parlour owners but were unable to find any pretty ladies in Crewe to work for us.
“As it turns out, we have learned a very expensive lesson but at least common sense has prevailed and we have not got criminal records.”