Three appear in court on brothel charges

2:14pm Saturday 5th July 2008

A MAN and two women have appeared in court accused of conspiracy to traffic women for the Swindon sex trade.

All three were arrested when police received reports of a woman being forced into prostitution at an address in Armstrong Street, in the town centre.

Leon Szeto, 41, of Reading, is accused of being concerned in the running of a brothel and transporting women to the alleged brothel in Armstrong Street.

The two female defendants, from China, listened to the proceedings through a Mandarin interpreter.

Soi Leong, 39, is accused with being the housekeeper at the alleged brothel and taking a cut of prostitutes' takings.

And Yun Yun Wu, 36, was accused of performing sexual favours.

Police officers raided the Armstrong Street address last month.

A second alleged brothel, in County Road, was also raided on the same day, following an anonymous tip-off to police from a man concerned about the welfare of a sex worker.

Police launched a search for a girl known only as Lily, who the man believed could have been forced into selling herself under duress in Armstrong Street.

Det Sgt Anthony Hubbard, who is leading the investigation said: "We originally were looking for a girl called Lily, but we now think it is possible that her name is Lee Lee or some other variation of the name.

"We still haven't managed to track her down and are very keen for anyone to come forward who may know where she is.

"We are also asking any girls being trafficked to contact the police's major investigation room at Gablecross."

Seven people have been arrested in Swindon in connection with sex trafficking.

An eighth man has also been arrested in South Wales.

Anyone who has any information about the woman's whereabouts should contact Swindon police on 0845 408 7000.

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