Three admit running network of massage parlours

From left: Benjamin Hopkins, Liu Xu Hopkins, Khondakar Hasan

Three people are facing jail after admitting running a network of massage parlours across five counties.

Khondakar Hasan, 39, Liu Xu Hopkins, 55 and Benjamin Hopkins, 56, pleaded guilty to controlling prostitution for gain at Swindon Crown Court on Friday.

They were arrested on 16 October following police raids at seven premises in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Reading.

The investigation was led by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) and seven women believed to have been victims of trafficking received support from officers.

Det Ch Insp Adam Smith, from SWROCU, said: "Wiltshire Police referred this investigation to us following community concerns about two businesses in Chippenham, which have since been ordered to close by the court.

"This shows the importance of community intelligence, which is how this whole case started. Ultimately, the actions of those people in Chippenham who chose to speak up rather than turn a blind eye, have led to an investigation with three people convicted."

Hasan, of New Humberstone, Leicester and the Hopkins, both of Staple Hill, near Bristol, were all remanded into custody ahead of sentencing on 27 February next year.