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Crown Court tells brothel madam she must sell Porsche |
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Crimewatch
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Published in The Echo
6th September 2010
Martell will face two years in jail if she fails to repay the amount within six months. The Echo reported how Martell, 39, who was living in Pilot Wharf, Pierhead, Exmouth, at the time, was given a suspended prison sentence at the court in March this year. At an earlier hearing, city magistrates were told she had set aside a £56,000 "nest egg" for her retirement and recently bought a jet-ski.
She had pleaded guilty to keeping a brothel in Friernhay Street, near the city centre, and an offence of concealing, disguising, converting, transferring or moving criminal property by keeping £56,000 and $617 in a safe in her home. She had also pleaded guilty to spending cash from the proceeds of crime on a £29,000 Porsche Boxster, a £9,000 Sea Ray speedboat, paying more than £2,000 in mooring fees at Exmouth marina and buying a painting worth more than £2,000. In addition, she pleaded guilty to possessing a stun gun, found in a bag behind a wardrobe at her home.
Prosecutor Christopher Bennett said an agreement had been reached with the defence team that she should repay £81,007.49. This was the amount it was calculated she had left from the £678,945.87 which she had profited from her criminal activities.
Mr Bennett said her assets included a Porsche car which had initially been valued at £13,300, during the investigation for the confiscation proceedings, but had now been recalculated as £8,000 after the defence team provided this valuation from a "reputable" car dealer.
Defence counsel Gareth Evans said: "She has no money, police have seized £59,000 in cash from her at the time of the search of her house and business premises. That can be forfeited and confiscated immediately. There are also some jewellery pieces in the possession of the police."
He added she had a painting valued at £2,000 but she would need time to sell all these items or for the police to arrange for them to be auctioned.
Recorder Andrew Maitland made the order and told Martell: "If you don't pay the £81,000 back, which includes the substantial amount in the hands of the police already, you may well find yourself going to prison for non-payment."
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Crimewatch 