No prison or fine for man who ran brothel in town

Friday 19 December 2014

A Romanian who ran a brothel using two women for two days this week in a short-lease flat has escaped a prison sentence, probation or fine after pleading guilty to a charge in court.

Instead, Catalin Mihail Avram (35) has been told to leave the Island for three years after the Magistrate’s Court heard that under the 120-year-old Jersey law on prostitution, he could only be sentenced to a maximum of a £50 fine, or three months in prison.

Avram admitted coming to Jersey on Monday with two women, telling customs officers at the harbour that they were here for a break and to possibly look for work. In their car, the officers found £300 in cash, a large amount of condoms and papers relating to an adult sex website.

On Wednesday, police officers went to the Panama Apartments in Green Street where the three had been staying and questioned them – one of the women was co-operative with the officers and said she had been selling sex services to punters over the website.

The court heard from the prosecuting Advocate, Police Legal Adviser Matthew Maletroit, that one of the women saw three clients on Tuesday afternoon, at £80 a time.

The police also seized £697 in cash, a phone containing pictures of the two women in what Advocate Maletroit described as “suggestive poses”, a computer, which had pages on the sex website open, and what the lawyer described as “numerous used condoms."

When interviewed, Avram – whose address was listed on the court charge sheet as being in Oldham in Manchester, but who was born in Romania - gave “no comment” answers to the police.

Advocate Maletroit said: “There is no evidence of any form of force, coercion or threats and therefore no indication that any trafficking offences have been committed. The female who was co-operative said she keeps the money that she gets from the activities.

“However, it is noteworthy that Mr Avram had an increase in cash at the time of his arrest to that which was in his possession when he entered the Island.”

Advocate Maletroit recommended a "Botli" order – a court order under which a defendant is forced to leave the Island, usually for a period of three years. He said: “I also note the penalties for the offence which the defendant has been charged contained in article seven of the 1895 law refer to a £50 fine or three months’ imprisonment.”

Advocate Sarah Dale, defending, said that one of the women with Avram had been his girlfriend, and was four months pregnant. She said that he normally lives in Manchester, where he has had several jobs in the last few months.

She added that he would consent to being forced to leave the Island, saying: “If the court were minded to consider this, he has agreed to this and I have explained to him that he must not return to the Island and I have explained the consequences if he does. He apologises for the situation he has found himself in and for taking the court’s time up today. In terms of a financial penalty, the only money that he has is the money that has been seized.”