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Jail for man who ran 10 brothels


AMANwho ran three brothels in Maidstone has been sent to prison. A police investigation revealed


that Tomas Ziemys (pictured) was using 10 properties across Kent where prostitutes, who had been il- legally trafficked from Lithuania, were forced to work in the sex industry. A detective on


the case said the victims were “in-


credibly vulnerable” and had been exploited by Ziemys. Jailing 31-year-old Ziemys for three-and-a-half years, Maidstone Crown Court found him guilty of being involved in an organised criminal network, using the internet to recruitment women to work in the UK and managing brothels. The jury heard how the network promised the women opportunities as escorts and within the vegetable trade, but on arriving in the UK theywere told they would be work- ing in the sex trade. The women were forced to meet the demands of Ziemys and his


counterparts through fear of vio- lence and isolation, and their serv- ices were advertised through a variety of adult publications. Throughout the investigation, properties in Clifford Way, Brunswick Street and Bower Lane in Maidstone, together with others in Gillingham and Rochester were raided andwomenidentified as vic- tims of modern slavery. When Ziemys, of High Grove


Road, Chatham, was arrested, mo- bile phones were seized and exam- ined. It transpired that the phones were linked with adverts promot- ing adult services and advertising for escort workers on Lithuanian websites. Some of his associates are be-


lieved to have fled the country and enquiries continue to trace them. Investigating officer DC Dave Godden said: “The victimswere in- credibly vulnerable; a fact Ziemys and the others exploited. “They lived in fear and thankfully


they have now been saved from a life of forced prostitution. Some of them have returned home to their families.”


Awelcome sign of spring


Sally is village’s newwarden SPRING has sprung when the bluebells are out. Reader Neill Johnston


sent us this picture of the flowers growing near Broomfield while out walking last weekend. We would love to see your photographs taken locally. Send them to info@downsmail.co.uk.


BEARSTED has a new community warden dedicated to reducing the fear of crime. SallyWilliams will be a uniformed presence around the village, act-


ing as the “eyes and ears” for other bodies in the area. She told the parish magazine: “If you should happen to come across


me in the street, please feel free to say hello, have a chat or raise with me any concerns you may have. “My role as community warden is to reduce the fear of crime, to


tackle antisocial behaviour, to act as the eyes and ears for other agen- cies and to become a trusted friend for the community.” Sally formerly worked at Kent County Council and in an advisory capacity for Kent Trading Standards. She can be contacted on her mo- bile 07813 712105 or email at sally.williams@kent.gov.uk.


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