Brothel madam has no regrets

As a young woman with a bright, business brain, Samantha Robinson dreamed of being her own boss.

But instead of an office or a shop, she managed a vice den in Walsall – and raked in thousands a week.

Today the 32-year-old admitted in court to running the brothel in Fellows Park Gardens, Bescot, putting an end to a saga that kept the gossip-mongers busy for months and meaning neighbours can breathe a sigh of relief.

Samantha, who exudes confidence and charisma, has no regrets about her lifestyle, and admits that had the police not raided her premises, she might have carried on for years. "I know what I did was illegal, but I don't think it was wrong," she says.

Her introduction to prostitution was earlier this year when she and a friend decided there was some money to be made from selling sex, she says.

Asked why she went into the sex industry she said: "I just did it because I had a friend who was doing it so I thought why not?"

They had differences, however, about how to manage the business and they fell out, leaving Samantha to run it alone at her two-bedroom flat. At first it was thought she might struggle finding women wanting to work for her, but she engaged eight women, aged from 25 to their early 30s, all from the Walsall or Birmingham area.

Thanks to a saucy advert outlining the girls' expertise, punters came to the usually quiet street. On an average day 10 customers could pass through the doors, but at a weekend this would increase to 15 or 20.

Rather than welcoming drunks or vagrants into the building, Samantha says she was more likely to be shaking hands with successful businessmen.

"The men came from all walks of life and were all ages," she said. "You would get your businessman popping in, professionals like doctors and then your builders.

"We could get 10 to 15 punters a day and a weekend would be very busy."

With more than 100 men pouring in each week, Samantha was making thousands.

"The punter would arrive and the girls would come out and stand in a line and he would choose which one he wanted," she said. "Then there would be a list of the different services the girl would provide and for what cost. It was up to the girls what they wanted to do and I would take 50 per cent."

The cosy flat that doubled as a vice den was a far cry from the seedy dump usually associated with such activities.

Situated on a new development that houses many couples and young professionals, it was equipped with mod cons and stylish furniture.

And Samantha made sure the women and their customers were well cared for when she was there.

"I looked after the girls," she said. "They trusted me and they all said how much they loved working for me.

"They knew they would be safe working for me. It was very welcoming. It wasn't sleazy or unclean. Everything was fresh. Fresh towels, fresh bedclothes – it was very professionally run. It was very clean and welcoming for both my girls and the punters who came."

But it all came to head when her despairing neighbours, who had watched hundreds of men coming and going over several months, tipped off police about her enterprise.

At 1pm on July 7, officers battered down the door, arrested Samantha and charged her with keeping a brothel.

Now, after admitting her crime, Samantha will be sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court on October 7. But reflecting on her decision to manage a sex business, she is adamant she has no regrets. "I was providing a service for punters but I was also helping the girls to work in a safe environment," she insists.

"We were a good team. We had fun and everyone got on really well."

She has thrown her backing behind a campaign to get brothels legalised in the UK, a campaign being led by some members of the Women's Institute, saying such a move would help protect women who are currently forced onto the streets and faced with often terrifying situations.

"The Women's Institute is campaigning to have brothels legalised and I would support them every step of the way. Brothels are legal in many countries across the world and this cuts out the threat posed to women who have to work the streets."