Couple jailed for running brothel

A husband and wife who ran a brothel and used illegal immigrants as prostitutes have been jailed for four months.

Gordon Smith and his Thai wife Banjong masqueraded their business in Gillingham as a massage parlour, Maidstone Crown Court heard.

When police raided the rented premises in the High Street in October 2002 they found five people including Mr Smith, Sunil Rupasinha, prosecuting said.

Among those arrested were Thai women who were illegal immigrants and have since been deported.

Prostitution is not a way of life in this country Judge Andrew Patience

Mr Rupasinha said Mr Smith made no effort to deny the premises was a brothel.

Adverts were placed in local newspapers and there were about 10 girls on the books, he said.

Between May and October last year the court heard, there had been a joint financial benefit to the couple of £7,929.

But Kevin Sparks, defending, said Mrs Smith had been out of the country at the time of the police raid.

Mr Smith, of the High Street, Gillingham, admitted living on the earnings of prostitution and Mrs Smith, of the same address, pleaded guilty of aiding and abetting.

Sentencing the pair on Friday, Judge Andrew Patience QC said: "In plain language, you were running a brothel in Gillingham at 10a High Street.

"Prostitution is not a way of life in this country....no court can condone it."