Bail for Cheltenham brothel suspect - but not for wife

A JUDGE has granted bail to a Cheltenham man accused of running brothels in the town.

Barry Champion, 33, of Berkeley Street, was allowed bail at Gloucester Crown Court subject to conditions.

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But his wife, Ailing Zhuang, 41, also of Berkeley Street, was refused bail by Judge Jamie Tabor QC .

The couple are both due to appear before the crown court on September 26 for preliminary hearing of their case.

They are accused of conspiring to operate brothels in the town between Janurary 1, 2009 and September 13 this year.

The pair were arrested and charged last week following police raids on two flats in Pittville Lawn and Suffolk Road.

Ms Zhuang came to Britain from China in 2007 and married her husband in 2008. They have one son.

She has overstayed her visa, but has applied to become a UK citizen.

At Cheltenham Magistrates Court last week, prosecutor Sharon Jomaa alleged that she went by the name Zoe to rent the house in Suffolk Road.

Two women, both understood to be from South East Asia, were found at the properties raided by police last week and taken into custody as suspected victims of human trafficking.

At the same time, Metropolitan Police carried out searches at four addresses in London.

A 40-year-old man arrested in London on suspicion of money laundering in connection with the case has been bailed to attend Cheltenham police station on November 5.

The double swoop was part of Operation Beesmore - a coordinated crackdown on the town's illegal sex trade.