Brothel was disguised as Chinese medicine shop

A woman has admitted her part in running a brothel in Suffolk.

Shu Choy, 68, pleaded guilty at Ipswich Crown Court to one count of conspiracy to corrupt public morals and another of possessing criminal property.

The court heard she owned a property at 64 Upper Orwell Street, Ipswich, and had allowed a man to run the brothel from it, with a front as a Chinese medicine shop.

Choy, of Lorian Close in Barnet, north London, is due to be sentenced alongside another defendant on 7 February.

The offences were said to have happened between 12 Jun 2019 and 19 October 2021.

Choy's daughter Mingzi Shi had been charged with the same offences, but after Choy changed her plea to guilty, prosecutors decided not to offer evidence against the daughter and she was acquitted.

Choy's guilty pleas came as the trial was set to start and the jury had been sworn in.

Prosecutor Brian Reece said Choy played her part in running a "large scale prostitution business" by taking "rent" money from a man in China.

He said police had been observing the business, before two undercover officers went in to confirm the services that were being offered, without using them.

The building was searched and a wall chart showed the names of "young women" who were working there.

Phone records revealed messages that had been sent out advertising services, the court heard.

Documents showed that the average payment was about £120 and would be split evenly between the "masseurs" and the business.

Judge David Wilson told Choy there was the "possibility of a custodial sentence".

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