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Brothel owner Tomas Ziemys, of Highgrove Road, Chatham, locked up for running sex houses in Medway and Maidstone

A man has been jailed after a jury convicted him of controlling prostitutes and running several brothels - branded “a pretty murky world” by a judge.

Tomas Ziemys was accused of being responsible for operating 10 brothels in Medway, Maidstone and London.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the 31-year-old Lithuanian father was involved with others over a period of about two years.

Tomas Ziemys
Tomas Ziemys

Ziemys, of Highgrove Road, Chatham, denied three charges of controlling prostitution for gain and 10 of keeping a brothel used for prostitution.

He was convicted of two offences of controlling prostitution for gain and seven of keeping a brothel used for prostitution an acquitted of the remaining charges.

"You were up to your neck in the sex trade for your own financial benefit" - Judge Jeremy Carey

Sentencing him to three-and-a-half years, Judge Jeremy Carey: “You were up to your neck in the sex trade for your own financial benefit.

“This kind of sex trade is a blight on neighbourhoods - prostitutes speaking of eviction notices because of neighbours being visited by clients going to the wrong premises.”

Prosecutor James Lofthouse said Ziemys took 50 per cent of the prostitutes’ income and charged them rent for the premises he “managed”.

One woman answered an advert on a Lithuanian website for escorts and was set up in a flat at Century Court in Rochester with another woman.

Ziemys took photos of them and put them on websites, detailing services offered. They would charge £100 for an hour and £70 for 30 minutes.

The case was heard at Maidstone Crown Court
The case was heard at Maidstone Crown Court

Other premises were rented in Skinner Street and Watling Street, Gillingham, Clifford Way, Maidstone, Ingram Close, Larkfield, Watersmeet, St Mary’s Island, London Road and St Francis Close, Strood and an unknown address near Medway Hospital.

Mr Lofthouse said in the early hours of January 30 last year police were called to an incident at the Clifford Way address in Maidstone.

Ziemys was sitting in the passenger seat of a BMW car. He told officers he wanted to meet some ladies. He made no comment when asked if he was in charge of the flat.

Police went there again on April 28 after complaints from other residents. A number of Lithuanian women were found there, along with used condoms.

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