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Mum,, 85, denies taking brothel money |
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Crimewatch
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Published in The Bournemouth Daily Echo
2nd March 2010
AN 85-YEAR-OLD woman whose flat was used as a brothel has appeared in court accused of transferring almost £50,000 of criminal cash. Ruby Wood told police she thought her daughter was operating a legal escort agency from the flat in Wimborne Road, Winton.
But prosecutors claim the pensioner knew or suspected that Diana Wood was illegally operating a brothel but continued to allow money from the business to go through her Abbey National account to pay the mortgage. Jurors at Bournemouth Crown Court were told Ruby Wood, of Spring Road, Boscombe, bought the flat in January 2006 and paid almost £50,000 in mortgage payments despite her only income being a state pension.
The court was told that her daughter, Diana Wood, has pleaded guilty to the criminal offence of keeping a brothel.
Prosecuting, Simon Jones said Diana Wood made regular payments into her mother’s account and the cash was used to pay the mortgage. He told how an undercover police officer posed as a “working girl” and spoke to Ruby Wood on the telephone.
“The prosecution say that the call made by the undercover police officer demonstrated that the defendant knew a little bit more about her daughter’s flat and what went on there than she may be prepared to accept,” he said.
Ruby Wood denies one charge of transferring criminal property between June 10 2005 and June 10 2009, knowing or suspecting it to represent the proceeds of criminal conduct.
The trial continues.
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Crimewatch 