A woman made thousands of pounds managing a brothel in Warrington.
Guoyan Ma sometimes took more than £2,500 per week from the business she ran from Warrington’s Pyramid Court with the help of 72-year-old accomplice David Marsh.
She hosted and set payment rates for workers at the brothel, as well as advertising their services, with some of the sex workers later found to be in the UK illegally.
READ MORE: Family sobs in court as Ava White's murderer locked up for life
The 58-year-old’s sentencing hearing at Liverpool Crown Court today had to be stopped briefly after she had what was believed to be a panic attack in the dock shortly before being handed a suspended sentence. Simon Parry, prosecuting, said Ma was convicted by a jury earlier this year of five counts of controlling prostitution for gain.
He said those counts covered a limited period, relating to five women in their 30s and 40s, but evidence gathered by police showed the business was operating far longer than the period covered by the charges. Mr Parry said: “It was clear from the messages and the that was received from the defendant, particularly those flare messages, that seemed to indicate that she operated this business from July 2016 to October 2019.”
Ma had denied the charges against her but was convicted by a jury earlier this year. Marsh was convicted of two counts of money laundering linked to the business. Marsh was not sentenced today after being admitted to hospital for medical issues. He will be sentenced at a later date.
Mr Parry said an investigation found that four of the five women who were the subject of Ma’ trial had originally come to the UK on legitimate visas but had then stayed here once they expired. The fifth had come to the UK illegally.
Nick Barraclough, defending, said that while Ma controlled much of the business there was no evidence of coercion or manipulation on her part and said all evidence pointed to the sex workers being involved in the business through their own will. He said Ma had severe mental health problems and these had worsened since her conviction. He asked the judge to consider imposing a suspended sentence with a requirement for her to undertake unpaid work.
Mr Barraclough said: “Were she to avoid an immediate custodial sentence today, it seems to me, having spoken to her on this topic, that she would be both willing and able to carry out unpaid work. She has an issue with her hearing, that is a genuine complaint, and she has a hearing aid. Clearly, her English is not the best but she does speak some English.”
He said her hearing and communication issues would make a prison term particularly difficult and appealed to the judge to give her a suspended sentence.
Judge Neil Flewitt QC said Ma’s control of the operation saw her profit from the business but said he accepted there was not coercion and that messages from each of the women implied they were engaged in the business through their own will. He said: “It is important to record that there was no evidence at all that these women were coerced into working as prostitutes. The evidence at trial and the statements clearly suggest they were all willing participants. They were working so, as I said, they could stay illegally in this country.”
Ma, of Clarence Street, was handed an 18 month jail term suspended for two years. She must also complete 180 hours of unpaid work.
READ NEXT:
Family sobs in court as Ava White's murderer locked up for life
Ava White's mum explains touching story behind photo of daughter on hoodie
Ava White's mum's powerful message to other parents after killer's sentencing
Updates as Ava White murderer sentenced for killing schoolgirl
