A COURT story that revealed a brothel was allowed to remain open in the centre of Trowbridge for a decade despite police being aware of its presence has divided opinions in the town.

Last week, the Wiltshire Times reported that a brothel in Norwood Court, just off Wicker Hill, had been run by Marion Meyer-Smith since 2002 and she was given a 12-month jail term suspended for two years.

Some people living nearby were shocked that police had not taken action, while others believe it was better to have a brothel where women were safe and not exploited rather than them working the streets.

Azaria Lynch, 27, who lived above the brothel for two years before moving to Fife with her husband, said: “We knew nothing about it, so it was very shocking to hear the news.

“We recognised the lady in the Wiltshire Times article but had no idea what she’d been up to.

“The building was always disgusting and very poorly kept. Sometimes we’d see random burly men asleep in the hallway in the morning and at times there was even human excrement.

“Although it was a shock to us, the brothel didn’t cause any disruption, so as long as there was nobody being exploited in there, I can understand why police allowed it to continue.”

Swindon Crown Court heard that police visited the ‘massage parlour’ last June and found two mature women, both from the local area, working in the premises with a client. Both said they were content to be working there.

Trowbridge councillors are of the view that the brothel should have been shut down immediately.

This week Cllr Pete Fuller echoed what Cllr John Knight said last week.

He said: “Police should have shut it down, there’s no doubt about it.

“They should not choose which laws they uphold and which ones they don’t or it would cause anarchy and leave them open to accusations.

“Some European countries are more liberal than us and don’t seem to mind brothels but I for one hope they are never legalised in the UK.”

Phoebe Kemp, 27, who is standing as a Labour candidate for central Trowbridge and lives in Norwood Court, said: “We’ve been here for 18 months and guessed that something might have been going on last year as my partner used to see lots of strange people going in and out.

“It’s worrying that police chose to let it continue – it makes me wonder what else they are turning a blind eye to. I would really like to know why they chose to let it remain open and I’m sure other people would, too.”

The court was told heard that about nine years ago, a letting agent had contacted the police to tell them what was going on there and had received an acknowledgement from the force.

Trowbridge mayor Linda Self said: “Of course, it doesn’t look too good for Trowbridge, but at the same time they’re better off in there than out on the streets where they’re vulnerable.

“However, I do think the police should have closed it down when they first heard about it.”

Women working at the brothel were giving Meyer-Smith half their takings, the court heard, and when she was questioned she said she would take £100 to £150 a week from the business while another person got the rest.

A man who wanted to remain anonymous said: “My girlfriend lives in that block of flats so I visit her quite a lot. “I knew what was going on there but it never bothered me.

“Most people I know knew about it being there, but nobody minded – in fact I think it’s a bit of a shame it’s gone.”

Mark Wakeling, the director of Southampton-based sexual exploitation charity Beyond The Streets, said: “It can be easy to assume that because women were working in off-street premises are then they were safe from exploitation.

“Many of the women who call us seeking support tell a different story and it is important assumptions are not made.”

Wiltshire Police were unable to provide an officer for interview before our deadline.