Woman convicted for helping to run Newbury brothel

Reading Crown Court was told that when police raided the premises above the Pro-bike shop in Newtown Road on November 9 last year, 41-year-old Jenine Jones climbed out onto the roof in her dressing gown.”
Rebecca Austin, prosecuting, said that, upon seeing the officers, Jones exclaimed: “Thank God it's you - I thought we were being robbed.”
Jones denied assisting in the running of a brothel, claiming instead she travelled 60 miles from her luxury home in Sarratt, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, to be a weekly cleaner.
However the jury did not believe her and convicted her at the conclusion of the two-day trial last Tuesday, November 8.
Ms Austin said: “A search warrant was executed at 22 Newtown Road, Newbury. Entry was forced by police who identified themselves as officers upon entry.
"In the lounge of the flat was a woman. She stated she was working as a prostitute one day a week. She earned an average £200 pounds a day. In her make-up bag was a bundle of cash. She explained that the money was her takings from the clients.”
She added: "Officers went upstairs. In one bedroom was a man and a female. Both were in a state of undress. The woman said she was a prostitute and renting a room."
The women, from Latvia and the Czech Republic, said they paid £20 per client to the brothel boss Meinir Kirlew for - known as Teresa -for use of the premises.
Pornographic material, oils, towels and baby wipes were found in one bedroom. The second room had similar paraphernalia.
A letter addressed to Ms Kirlew was found and a total of £680 pounds cash was seized from the establishment above the Pro-Bike shop.
Texts messages from October 2010 from Jones to Kerlew's mobile were also revealed to the jury.
One read: "Hi Teresa. Have the money now."
Another said: "Had 19, just off, see you next week."
Yet another said: "Also had a complaint about Anna today about poor service."
A text sent in July 2010, also said: "Had 12 in."
A reply from Kerlew to Jones read: "Ok hun, did you leave the money and where?"
The response: "Yes bottom of sink bin."
Prosecutors said this information related to the number of clients the prostitutes had.
Kirlew, aged 51 from Holmesdale Street, Cardiff, Wales, has already pleaded guilty to managing a brothel.
And in June a Newbury businessman was convicted of allowing his premises to be used as a brothel after town magistrates heard it became “common knowledge” that the flat was used by prostitutes.
Summing up the case, Judge Angela Morris said: "There is no dispute that this was a brothel in the flat. The issue is whether this defendant assisted in the management of the brothel.
"When you consider what was found at the house, what was contained in the interview and what was contained in her text messages it might be this amounts to someone who was doing more than menial tasks."
She added: "You must not be swayed by feelings of disgust or outrage about a case such as this that ladies and gentleman you may have about those who engage in prostitution or those linked to it.”
Jones will be sentenced along with Kirlew at Reading Crown Court on Friday, December 13.