A family has been sentenced to a total of 36 months imprisonment for their role in running a £1m vice ring, including a brothel in Kenton.
Spencer Rolfe, 60, and his sister Adele Lubin, 61, were sentenced to 15 months each, and Lubin's son David Howard, 40, was given 6 months, suspended for 2 years and 150 hours unpaid work, at Southwark Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday).
The family were found guilty on July 09 of conspiring to control prostitution for gain at a flat in Kenton Road, after a four month undercover operation by the Clubs and Vice Unit.
The operation, codenamed Acebo, started in December 2006 after intelligence was passed to the Unit by a Safer Neighbourhood Team. It culminated with the arrest of the trio on 24th April 2007.
Detective Superintendent Dave Eyles, in charge of operations at the Clubs and Vice Unit said: "This was a family run business, making a vast criminal profit of in the region of £1 million each year.
"At the time of the arrests we know that they were operating four brothels, and on the day we arrested them we recovered seventeen women who were working as prostitutes.
"This was a well-run, extremely well organized vice business, that was certainly cash rich. The trio had no source of income other than their vice business.
"Some may wrongly believe that this is a victimless crime. However, it traps and controls women who are left with no choice other than to concede to their exploitation. The women we recovered from the trio's brothels were often eleven hours a day, and made to service hundreds of men a week.
"The Clubs and Vice Unit continues to work to clampdown on those who control and exploit women purely for financial gain. The concern and fear that brothels cause to the surrounding community where they are based should not be underestimated."
The family advertised their brothels in local newspapers, local newsagents and a listings magazine.
During the course of the investigation Rolfe disclosed to a police officer that some of the women had worked for him for three years, and at one point he had used his own home address as a brothel.
Rolfe, was arrested at his home address in Northway Court, Green Avenue, Mill Hill, Lubin was arrested at her home address in Watford Way, Hendon, and Howard was arrested at his home address in Raydele House, Canvey Roda, Canvey Island, Essex.
A financial investigation is ongoing, aiming to seize the fortune made by the family through their criminal enterprise.
