Man who ran brothel in Cork city complex jailed for two years

Brothel-keeping preys on vulnerable individuals, a judge said as she jailed a man for two years for running a brothel at Watercourse Road in Cork back in 2021.

Judge Sinéad Behan said: “This type of activity preys on vulnerable individuals. It is a serious matter. While it has been emphasised to me that there are no trappings of wealth it has all the hallmarks of organisation and planning. It included multiple premises, advertising, transport, pursuit of monies that were due."

Tiberius Bot (39) of Ross Park, Killavullen, County Cork, pleaded guilty recently to a charge of brothel-keeping contrary to the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act.

Sentencing of his partner, Alina Maria Straton, for the same offence was adjourned until February 2027 for a probation report.

Detective Sergeant Ailish Murphy said: “Surveillance was conducted for a period of three to six months where a pattern of behaviour was identified, where between the hours of midday and 10pm, males were presenting at the Bleasby Street complex, talking on their mobile phones. 

"They appeared cautious, peering around them before the door was opened. These males could spend from 20 minutes to one hour inside there. This behaviour was consistent with males seeking the services of sex workers at the property.

Search warrants 

“The properties were linked in this way to organised prostitution. On November 11, 2021, warrants were issued to carry out searches. At around 6pm on that date gardaí from the Protective Services Unit entered. A number of people tried to flee through a rear exit. Tiberius Bot was seen exiting the premises. He was requested by gardaí to re-enter the property," said Detective Sergeant Murphy

“Alina Straton was in the kitchen attempting to hide evidence – mobile phones and money. A mobile phone was seized from Tiberius Bot. Alina Straton was in possession of €5,490 cash and £40 sterling. Three mobiles phones were also seized from her.

“A male was located in an undressed state in an upstairs bedroom in the company of a female providing sexual services. There were four females found working as escorts on this premises and they admitted this to gardaí," she added.

“Three further females were also found offering sexual services for sale. A number of persons were prosecuted for purchasing sexual activity at Bleasby Street.

“The following day their residence at Kilavullen was searched. A number of items were seized, including mobile phones, documentation, a large volume of condoms and a cannister of pepper spray. Alina Straton took responsibility for the pepper spray.” 

On the phones there were numerous pictures of women in various states of undress, including two images of women who were present at Bleasby Street during the search, the detective said, adding that both had active adverts on a promotional website.

Documentation

Documentation showed details of flights from Europe to Cork, that were associated with women travelling to engage as sex workers in this enterprise, Det Sgt Murphy said.

Defence barristers, Elaine Audley and Paula McCarthy for Tiberius Bot and Alina Straton, respectively, said that there was no question of the sex workers being trafficked to the area or operating under duress. 

Det Sgt Murphy agreed and said that when questioned, the women operating from Bleasby Street told gardaí they were doing so voluntarily, and were not being coerced.

While Alina Straton did plead guilty to the charge that she did keep or manage or act or assist in the management of a brothel, she told gardaí that she was really only trying to assist the women who were working there. 

In addition, she admitted another charge related to the following day, November 12, 2021 at her home in Kilavullen of having a cannister of pepper spray in her possession, contrary to the Firearms Act.

Judge Behan said that one would have to be naïve to think that she was merely working in the role of assisting the women. 

The judge adjourned sentencing in her case, commenting: “There may be some vulnerability attaching to her.” 

This sentencing was adjourned until February 18.

However, the judge also remarked: “I have particular concerns that they were operating a business – that is what it is.”