Brothel madam Maryellen Mayer sent to prison after raid on Middleport massage parlour
POLICE say they are cracking down on the sex trade after a former pottery worker was jailed for running a brothel.
Fifty-three-year-old Maryellen Mayer made £23,000 running a massage parlour in Middleport before it was raided by police.
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MASSAGE PARLOUR: Academy in Middleport and, inset, a sign above the door.
She is starting an eight-month prison sentence after being convicted at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Friday.
Sergeant Peter Slinn, based at Burslem police station, said: "We are trying to stamp out these premises that are acting illegally as brothels.
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"This is the first case that has gone through to conviction so we are pleased with the outcome, and it is pleasing for nearby residents and businesses.
"This sentence shows the courts don't look lightly on the offence. Hopefully it will send out messages to other people in Stoke-on-Trent who wish to operate brothels."
Mayer started running the Newcastle Street brothel after ill health forced her to retire from the pottery industry.
Bored of sitting at home on benefits, the court heard she saw the brothel as an opportunity to run a business.
She took it on in March 2008 and ran it until it was raided by police in January.
Punters would hand over £40 a time, of which £27 would go to the working girl. Mayer would pocket £10, while £3 was set aside for "cleaning".
The court heard Mayer would receive about £500 a month, so it was estimated she had made £23,000 during her time at the helm. She had worked as a prostitute herself for around nine years, and would fill in at Academy when she was short-staffed.
During the court case, Mayer's barrister Jason Holt said: "Mrs Mayer worked for 30 years as a lithographer, until she developed repetitive strain injury in her arm.
"For a short period she received incapacity benefit but she was bored. She was offered this opportunity and rather naively thought there was nothing wrong with it. Everyone who worked with Mrs Mayer speaks fondly of her."
The court heard the five prostitutes who worked for Mayer were aged between 25 and 50, were not drug users and many were just supplementing their income from other jobs.
The premises was regularly visited by the police. But on January 16 officers raided the brothel.
They found two women dressed in lingerie, and two customers. One of the men said he had been visiting Academy every week for two years.
Police seized client lists and details of the parlour's finances. Mayer pleaded guilty to keeping a brothel.
Her sentence was reduced from what would be usually handed out for this type of crime because the police had allowed the brothel to stay open for four years.
A financial investigation is underway and a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing will follow, which could see Mayer forced to repay all her ill-gotten gains.
Comments
by dissy
Tuesday, February 26 2013, 11:11AM
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Please can you take 5minutes to complete my survey.
Serious participants and over 18 only!
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by JOSSIEJOSSIE
Tuesday, July 24 2012, 2:00AM
“23/07/2012
Dear Sentinel
I am writing to you about the recent articles in your newspaper about the Police Raids and crack down on brothels, "Massage Parlours" in the Tunstall, Middleport area.
Caress Massage Parlour is one of the brothels which I have worked at for many years. And have known Crystal the woman who works there also for years.
I don't understand why after 16 years her business has been established for, the police are closing her down, and charging her with managing a brothel, and might send her to prison, when she actually works there.
There are many Parlours in Stoke On Trent, which all have people who run them or manage them.
The management only provide the women a " safe " environment to work from, as it is dangerous to work alone.
As a sex worker myself I am concerned that when the police have raided and closed all these brothels down, what will happen to the women ?
After forcing the brothels to close and prosecuting the management . Surely this is making things worse …..
This is because the Law says … its okay, legal to work alone, for a brothel or agency. But to actually manage a brothel its illegal, more than two women working is illegal.
Isn't it our human rights to work together in " SAFETY "?
What other job forces you to work alone ?
The prostitution Laws are endangering women and should be abolished.
The Police are wasting time and money prosecuting Sex Workers, while real criminals go free.
So what happens to women like me when we work together for "SAFETY", we can end up going to prison, lose all our earnings, through the proceeds of Crime Act, known as the POCA, which is used against us , and was designed to recover earnings from serious crime.
It is used to recover earnings from us "Sex Workers", Mothers and women just trying to make a living, working together.
The money recovered is split between the police, the CPs and the state.
I think this is why the raids are going on.
It encourages the police to target prostitutes as an easy money earning exercise.
This along with the general state hatred of us, and pressure to criminalise our clients. It's forcing us to work more underground and never to trust the persons in blue !
There will always be Sex Workers, Brothels, Massage Parlours, Escort agencies, etc ….
The police have all the powers to deal with prostitution, coercion and trafficking. If they allowed themselves to work with the sex industry, rather than against, they would be passed more information they could then act upon.
Isn't it better for the police to ask the community and punters to help rather than kicking down the brothel doors , frightening the life out of ordinary women.
It's time for someone to pay attention and listen to the working women, as they are not doing anything wrong. Just like my friend Crystal she does not deserve to go through all off this upset as she has not done nothing wrong, how can they send a decent working women to prison, it's disgusting.
They should LEAVE HER ALONE, SHES NOT HURTING NO ONE !
Just like the other parlour owners they have done nothing wrong.
Thanks …. Jossie !”
by plank584
Monday, July 09 2012, 5:02PM
“are you the hard done by one who still operates illegal brothels in another county”
by plank584
Monday, July 09 2012, 5:00PM
“a”
by penskiwenski
Monday, July 09 2012, 3:57PM
“Just one more comment from me, The Prostition Unit as it was then called
lulled me into a false sense of security by visiting my premises and assuring
me that everything was quite in order and although they were aware of
what was going on so to speak they were quite happy to let me carry on
...... they were more than friendly with the 'scantily clad ladies' as they
later described them in court..... but on my arrest acted and treated
me in a hostile and unfriendly manner...... something needs doing
about this and the Chief Constable of Staffordshire should make up
his mind and let the public know why there are different rules for
different massage parlour owners..........”
by penskiwenski
Monday, July 09 2012, 3:42PM
“This is ridiculous.... I was convicted some years ago
of running brothels but luckily avoided prison.....
it seems in stoke that there are different rules
with Staffordshire Police, they allow some brothels
to remain open and target others, just dont understand
..... also the Sentinel are happy to take money from
these places and advertise them in there personal
services column whilst printing about the poor
unfortunate ones that are targeted.. they persued
me with cameras reporters and made a spectacle
of me which was fair enough but will someone please
tell me WHY they allow other known brothels to
remain open ???????????????”
by penskiwenski
Monday, July 09 2012, 3:34PM
“Absolutely disgusting to send this poor woman to prison,
I was cnvicted some years ago of running brothels in
stoke on trent... the sentinel are very happy to take
money from these establishments and advertise them
under there Personal Services Column.... and it seems
that the police allow some brothels to stay open.......
knowing exactly what is going on.... it is so totally
unfair that there ae different rules for different
massage parlours...........??????????????????/
Poor Mary .......”
by Frankie5198
Wednesday, July 04 2012, 11:10AM
“The Sentinel.
I am disappointed in this newspaper. The Police are accountable and you as a newspaper are best placed to hold the Police to account. The Police have intentions of closing down places of safety where women in the sex industry work. These actions are beyond comprehension for how is it possible that instead of providing protection for these women, the Police by their actions are placing these women in a world of violence and subjugation. History shows this and research by renowned researchers proves this. And yet the Police continue against this background. You as a newspaper should be asking the question, and acting in the interest of the vulnerable, of where is the common sense and sound judgement in these actions by the Police?”
by rosieno1
Monday, July 02 2012, 8:19PM
“Hahahaha omg she had to stop working in pottery because she developed repetitive strain injury,lol ohhhhhh best laugh ive had for ages.Did this type of work help her wrist, i bet not!!! LOL”
by Frankie5198
Sunday, July 01 2012, 11:59AM
“To Sergeant Peter Slinn and Stoke Constabulary.
As stated earlier your prime function is the protection of all in society.
In the Sheehy inquiry into Police responsibilities The Statement of Common Purpose states emphatically that in your duty of upholding the law you have to do so with integrity, common sense and sound judgement. In view of what I had briefly touched on in previous comments could you please explain the matter of common sense and sound judgement as regards this matter of your intent of closing down places of safety where these women work?”