Women who admitted running Lincoln brothel sentenced

Sylvia Chanda and Lombe Yamelzi were sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court

Two women who admitted running a brothel in Lincoln have been spared jail.

In October, Sylvia Chanda, 57 and Lombe Yamelzi, 36, admitted keeping the brothel in the Uphill area of the city between March 2017 and October 2018.

At Lincoln Crown Court, the women were each given an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months,

They were also handed an eight-month sentence, suspended for 12 months, for converting criminal property.

The women, both of High Main Drive, Bestwood, Nottingham, were due to stand trial but their guilty pleas were accepted by prosecutors.

Prosecutors said a "significant profit" running into thousands of pounds was made from the business, which operated from a location in Sobraon Heights, off Burton Road.

This was during a period when Chanda appeared to have a limited income from her job as a care worker and Yamelzi had no bank accounts or records with HMRC, Lincoln Crown Court heard.

In mitigation, the court was told neither woman played a role in trafficking sex workers or setting prices for their services as this was dictated by the "local going rate".

A Proceeds of Crime hearing to determine if the pair benefitted from their crimes and have any seizable assets was adjourned until a later date.