Brothel was run from 'Chinese medicine shop'

A pensioner who "facilitated illegal sexual services" at a brothel disguised as a Chinese medicine shop has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Ines Ogata, 74, worked as a sex workers' receptionist on Upper Orwell Street in Ipswich until it was raided by police in October 2021.

Ogata, of Arthur Road, in Edmonton in north London, previously admitted controlling prostitution for gain and conspiracy to corrupt public morals.

At Ipswich Crown Court, Judge David Wilson said Ogata "demonstrated remorse" and was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months.

Ogata was arrested after two undercover officers, who had been monitoring the business, went inside to confirm that sex services were being offered, without using them, Suffolk Police said.

They spoke with Ogata asking her if any "extras were involved" in the service provided, to which she replied: "Yes, but I'm not supposed to know, if you know what I mean".

The building was subsequently searched and a wall chart displaying the names of young women who were working there was discovered.

The force said messages gathered from phone records also found the brothel's services being advertised, while documents revealed the average payment was about £120.

The money would be split evenly between the "masseurs" at the business.

During sentencing, prosecutor Brian Reece told the court Ogata had been cautioned previously for an "identical offence" in London in April 2011.

The defendant, who moved to the UK in 2006 and is undergoing tests for bowel cancer, must complete 25 rehabilitation days and attend mental health treatment sessions.

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