A pensioner has appeared in court charged with helping to run a brothel in Maidstone.

Margaret English was arrested when police raided Intimacys, based out of a flat in College Road, in October last year.

The 63-year-old, who lives in Bromley, claimed she was a cleaner and did not know prostitutes were working there.

But at her trial, Maidstone Magistrates’ Court heard English helped in the management of the brothel, including booking appointments, opening the door to clients and, on occasions, paying the girls and depositing the daily earnings into a bank account.

She denies the offence.

Prosecuting, Paul Shaw said the brothel promoted itself as a massage parlour in The Sport and Friday Advertiser promising a “sensual and professional service” with a choice of “gorgeous, sexy ladies”.

During the raid, officers found a man and a woman in a state of undress in the bedroom, as well as cash, a price list and sex toys, the court heard.

Mobile phones were also seized with contact numbers listed for clients under headings such as ‘trouble trouble’, ‘prison escape’, ‘black foot fetish’ and ‘rape girl very aggressive’.

The court heard a subsequent search of English’s home in Mead Way found sex toys, adult magazines, a large quantity of condoms and lubricant, as well as business cards, financial documents and more than £20,000 in cash.

Giving evidence was prostitute Francileide De Deus Santos who admitted running the brothel for around four years, with three working girls originally from Brazil and Portugal.

There was no suggestion they were working against their will or had been trafficked.

She said English, known to her as Jenny, was one of three receptionists she hired to manage the day-to-day running of the business.

The court heard the pair met while both working at another brothel in Horley, Surrey.

But David Nicholson, defending, questioned why English was in the dock instead of Miss Santos, who had received a caution after admitting running the brothel.

She denied she was promised she would not be prosecuted before giving a police interview.

He said: “Is it not right for a girl running a brothel for a number of years and which would make a substantial amount this seems like a light touch?”

The trial is expected to continue in February.