Suffolk/Essex: Brothel duo ordered to repay just �1 by judge in confiscation hearing

A COUPLE who made tens of thousands of pounds from running brothels were yesterday ordered to repay just �1 by a judge.

Alexsander Sochacki, 41, and his partner Aleksandra Bryll, 29, were found guilty of conspiring to manage or assist in the management of brothels in Suffolk, Essex and Norfolk at a trial in the summer.

But because they already owe �29,000 between them in confiscation orders for previous offences relating to brothels Judge David Goodin, sitting at Ipswich Crown Court, could only issue the nominal order.

Sochacki, who was living in The Admirals, Harwich, was jailed for three years and Bryll, who admitted the same charge, was jailed for 12 months.

At a hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act, Charles Myatt, prosecuting, said Sochacki and Bryll had both benefited from their offending by �34,160 which had been transferred into their bank account.

The court heard they were both experienced brothel-keepers.

Sochacki was described as the “directing mind” behind the operation and Bryll assisted him by advertising for females in Poland and placing ads for the brothels in British newspapers.

She had also arranged accommodation for the sex workers and her name was on utility bills for the premises.

Police officers launched a surveillance operation after receiving complaints about different women moving into premises in Ipswich every few weeks and a steady stream of men visiting the premises.

Police found brothels in Firmin Close, Gladstone Road, Foxhall Road and London Road, Ipswich; George Williams Close, Colchester; and Avenue Road, Norwich.

On an earlier occasion Przemyslaw Wegrzynowski, 41, of London Road, Ipswich, who was used as a taxi driver to ferry the sex workers, was given a suspended prison sentence for his part in the conspiracy and Bryll’s sister Eliza Bryll, 24, of Wells Crescent, Chelmsford, who played a lower-level role, was ordered to do 120 hours’ unpaid work.

Magdalena Pacula, 22, of London, and Jagoda Kukielka, 26, of Notley Road, Braintree, who worked as prostitutes in the brothels, were each sentenced to 100 hours’ unpaid work for their part in the conspiracy.

Wegrzynowski was found to have benefited by �2,970 and a confiscation order was made in the sum of �147.46 which was seized by police when he was arrested.

Eliza Bryll had benefited by �3,195 and Kukielka by �5,000 but as they have no realisable assets a nominal �1 confiscation order was made in each of their cases.

Pacula had benefited by �6,323 and a confiscation order was made in the sum of �560 which was seized from her by police.