Saturday 14 May 2011

Pimp Family's 'Sauna' Empire Smashed


A brothel-owning family – who raked in £16,000 per week from Eastern European prostitutes who worked 24-hour shifts – have been jailed.

The Essex trio bought flash cars including a Bentley and a top-of-the-range BMW, splurged thousands on luxury foreign holidays and treated themselves to expensive jewellery.

They are: Clyde Standing, 68, (pic.top) and his wife Lyubov, 32, (pic.midle) of Thornhill, North Weald plus Clyde’s son James Standing, 42, (pic.bottom) of Willingale Road, Debden.

Croydon Crown Court heard they ran three ‘saunas’, which were a front for prostitution, plus a fourth brothel from a flat above a shop.

Seventeen mostly Romanian women were found at the various premises and revealed either father or son would attend daily to collect their 50% share of the cash-only business.

In just two years the family spent £75,000 on foreign holidays and police also found Lyubov’s £12,000 jewellery receipt.

Police swooped in June last year, arresting Clyde and seizing £2,770 cash as he left one of the ‘saunas’.

James was arrested at his father’s address and £12,700 in cash was seized from a bedroom safe, plus £1,000 from a drawer.

When asked why his name was on the tenancy agreement of two of the brothels James replied: “Because I’m stupid.”

Lyubov tried to claim all her money came from her native Ukraine, but was unable to explain why she visited all the brothels twice a day.

Detective Sergeant John O’Brien, of the Met’s Human Exploitation and Organised Crime Unit said: “These individuals exploited vulnerable women for their own profit, spending their ill-gotten gains on expensive holidays and lavish items.

“The court result is a testament of our commitment to pursue those involved in this type of abhorrent crime and hold them accountable for their actions."

All three were convicted of conspiracy to control prostitution.

Clyde received 18 months, Lyubov 12 months and James 12 months.

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