Derry Crown Court: Man (30) jailed on brothel keeping charge

A man has been jailed at Derry Crown Court on a charge of brothel keeping.

Catalin Constantin Diaconu (30) with an address in Ferguson Street in Derry admitted a charge of brothel keeping on dates between August 6 and October 25 2021.

He also admitted a charge of being concerned in the supply of cocaine on a date between August 4 and September 20 2021.

The court heard that police attended an address on October 25 2021 in Derry and spoke to a young woman.

She told police she paid £350 a week for the property and 'gave massages'.

The woman also said she was on a number of escorts websites.

Due to the set up of the property and the fact that there was lingerie lying about police concluded it was being run as a brothel.

Diaconu was located by police and initially he denied knowledge of what was happening with the address.

He later admitted that he had been supplying the address for the women to work.

His phone was seized and a message relating to the supply of cocaine was found.

Defence counsel Eoghan Devlin said that his client was entitled to full credit due to his attitude towards the charge.

He said that there was 'no suggestion of coercion' and he fully accepted his culpability.

Passing sentence Judge Neil Rafferty said that this was more than a case of someone 'keeping an eye' on matters.

He said Diaconu was an 'active participant' in the setting up of the address for the lady in question.

The judge imposed a sentence of 12 months imprisonment with half in custody and half on licence.

He said the cocaine charge was one of 'casual supply' and imposed a 6 month sentence to run concurrently.

The court heard that there could be deportation proceedings following the sentence.