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Judge orders brothel maid to pay £9,991

A maid who helped run a Black Country brothel has been ordered to pay back thousands of pounds of her ill gotten gains.

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A maid who helped run a Black Country brothel has been ordered to pay back thousands of pounds of her ill gotten gains.

Married Marisa Paterson worked as a maid and receptionist at Fun Place, in Bearwood Road, Bearwood, where she would greet customers and arrange for rooms for customers and girls. She also updated the brothel's website.

The 39-year-old, of Wingfoot Avenue, Low Hill, Wolverhampton, was given a community order last year.Yesterday a judge at Wolverhampton Crown Court ordered she pay back £9,991 during a Proceeds of Coming hearing.

The Proceeds of Crime Act hearing followed an investigation into what financial gain Paterson made from her employment.

Judge John Maxwell told the defendant she must pay £9,991 within six months or risk going to jail. At a hearing in December, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard Paterson was the first person police saw when they raided the premises.

Customers would pay the women, and Paterson would receive tips. The court heard she was seen in public as a respectable figure, attending a ladies event at Wolverhampton Racecourse.

Paterson admitted working as a maid and receptionist, taking phone calls and bookings and updating the brothel's website.

She pleaded guilty to assisting in the management of a brothel and was given a community order and told to do 80 hours unpaid work.

Judge Nicholas Webb, who presided over the previous hearing, said on that occasion there was no evidence to suggest Paterson took a guiding or leading role in the management of this brothel.

The brothel is the not the first to be uncovered in Sandwell. Carl Pritchett, 57, of Holbeache Road, Wall Heath, was jailed for seven years for running Cuddles Massage Parlour in Hagley Road, Bearwood. He was originally sentenced to two years and ordered to pay a £2 million confiscation order but this increased to seven years after he failed to pay the money.

Pritchett's case is now being re-examined by the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

Police spokesman Billy Corrigan said: "The Proceeds of Crime Act gives the police an invaluable opportunity to ensure those who benefit financially from crime do not get to enjoy their ill gotten gains."

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