BDSM MEDIA NEWS!!!!
October 25, 2012
Dominatrix who ran two brothels spared jail
Source: Shieldsgazette.com. - Shieldsgazette.com - UK
UK - NEWCASTLE - A DOMINATRIX who admitted being the head of two busy brothels has walked free from court.
Sharon Loftus employed prostitutes from all over the UK, and took half of their £120-an-hour earnings for herself.
Newcastle Crown Court heard she ran brothels in Melvin Terrace, Heaton, Newcastle, and Foster Drive, St James Village, Gateshead, and deposited £170,000 into her bank account in just six years.
Loftus, 44, of Rochdale Street, Wallsend, pleaded guilty to keeping brothels.
Mr Recorder Stephen Winn sentenced Loftus, who, the court heard, is a devoted mum, to nine months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.
The judge told her: “You were providing premises for others to work in prostitution, and that is an offence which does cause victims, because those premises cause enormous stress and upset to those unfortunate enough to have to live beside them.”
The judge said Loftus’s guilty plea, devotion to her children and the fact none of the workers were forced into prostitution meant the jail sentence could be suspended.
Loftus initially denied the Heaton brothel was used to sell sex.
Michael Bunch, prosecuting, said: “She accepted she was the tenant and said she provided dominatrix services from the location, but it did not involve sexual contact, and as such, she did not believe she was guilty.
“She accepted other women worked there, but believed they acted in the same manner.”
It was only after the Gateshead brothel was discovered that she admitted sex was being sold.
Mr Bunch said neighbours of the Gateshead brothel had complained about the premises having a lot of male visitors.
“The house was clearly set up to work as a brothel. There were seven working girls present.
“They were spoken to by officers and confirmed they travelled from West Yorkshire, Scotland and other places to work in those premises.”
It was claimed, at first, that the Gateshead brothel was used only for bondage.
Peter Schofield, defending, said none of the employees were forced to engage in prostitution and were already sex workers when they were taken on.
“The set-up involved a measure of personal security for each of them.”
