Brothel owner escapes jail for underage workers

The mental health of a Wellington brothel owner, a 38-year-old mother of two, prevented her from being sent to prison today for employing two underage workers.

The prosecution of the woman, who has name suppression, was one of the first under the 2003 Prostitution Reform Act.

The woman pleaded guilty to two charges of assisting an under 18-year-old to provide sexual services and two of entering into a contract for sex with an under 18-year-old, following her arrest in February 2004.

Wellington District Court Judge John Walker sentenced her to 300 hours community service.

Judge Walker told the woman she had avoided a prison sentence due to her chronic anxiety depression combined with post natal depression following the birth of her four-month-old baby whom she was still breast feeding.

Crown prosecutor Cameron Mander said a 14-year-old girl under Child Youth and Family care had told the brothel receptionist she was 18. She had been asked of proof of age but the escort agency never followed her up on it.

The then 17-year-old daughter of the younger girls' care giver worked at the brothel for two weeks after also saying she was 18. She was not asked for proof of age.

The 14-year-old had 24 clients in two weeks and the 17-year-old had 13 clients, Mander said.

Defence counsel Keith Jefferies said the woman had delegated the task of interviewing new workers to her receptionist and had been shocked to discover the girls' age.

- NZPA