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Coffin found at Blackpool brothel
A WHITE coffin was found in a Blackpool massage parlour when the premises were raided by police.
Resort magistrates heard the grisly find was used in perverse masochism sessions at the Church Street brothel.
The court heard how a full range of personal services were on offer at The Cruz Massage Parlour – including "the obvious" and domination bouts.
Clients could visit a room where they took part in various degrees of punishment ranging in price from 65 to 105. It was in one of these rooms the white coffin was found.
George Galea, 37, of Palatine Road, Blackpool, admitted assisting in the management of the premises.
Victoria Cartmell, prosecuting for Blackpool Council, said public protection officer Ian Taylor and a police officer visited the massage parlour on February 1 at around 9.20pm.
A sign on the parlour door gave the brothel's website address and the premises offered female and male escorts, whirlpool baths and showers and domination.
Galea was in the reception area.
He seemed happy to show the officers around and said two girls Nina and Michelle were working that night.
A price list on the wall offered sex services for prices ranging from 45 to 65 for a full personal service which was described as including "the obvious".
Domination was billed at 65, but could cost 20 to 40 more depending on the level of domination req-uired.
Ms Cartmell added: "The premises had a residential area, a primary school and Blackpool's Youth Offending Team office near it."
Hugh Pond, defending, said his client was merely an employee following the orders of his boss.
He added: "You're dealing here with the fall guy and not the main villain who clearly is the absent owner Andrew Gregson."
Galea, who is from Malta and came to Britain in 2006, had no previous convictions.
He had worked at a hotel owned by Mr Gregson and only been employed at the massage parlour twice, when he was asked to go there to answer the phone and take money by Mr Gregson.
Mr Pond added: "Mr Gregson was paying my client's wages and he had to do as he was told or be sacked.
"He says he would not have done it if he had known it was illegal.
"On the second occasion he was there, the place was raided by Blackpool Council officials and the police. My client had no financial interest in the place."
Galea was fined 100 with 125 costs and ordered to pay a 15 victims' charge by Blackpool magistrates.
Blackpool Council leader Peter Callow (pictured inset) has ordered a clamp down on sleaze in the resort and a number of massage parlours have been raided during 2008.
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Monday 13 February 2012
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