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Brotherl in Pheasant Close Winnersh raided by police
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Winnersh brothel shut down

By Anna Roberts
January 20, 2010

Neighbours have spoken of their shock after it emerged a house in a family-friendly cul-de-sac was operating as a brothel.

Police raided the home in Pheasant Close, Winnersh, after residents complained about a flurry of traffic and people coming and going regularly.

People living in the close said they initially had no idea the property was a brothel rather than a home.

They had noticed the tree outside the property had its stump painted white and believed this was to deter ants from climbing up the bark.

But it was more likely to act as a signpost for men looking for paid sex.

The prostitutes – it is not known if they had pimps – put notices into local newspapers advertising their services and encouraging people to go to Pheasant Close for sex.

Neighbours said many men parked in the cul-de-sac but others dropped off their cars in Reading Road’s Sainsbury’s or Winnersh Railway Station.

A man who lived next door to the brothel and asked not to be named said three brothers owned the house but let it out.

He said: “At first we didn’t notice it much. Probably because we later heard many callers were parking in Sainsbury’s.”

He said it was about four months’ ago new people – later found to be involved in the brothel – moved into the property.

The neighbour said: “I went round to them and explained about when the rubbish was put out and they were very nice.”

But increasingly more and more Asian women would turn up at the house, the man said.

The police observed the house and subsequently raided it.

“But a week later it was operating as a brothel again,” the neighbour said.

“They raided it again but I think they were holding out to get the top person who was controlling the brothels.”

Winnersh’s PCSO Nellie Williams said: “We checked Pheasant Close on a daily basis and provided high visibility patrols, visiting the neighbours and banging on the door of the suspected property regularly.

“Any cars that were on the drive were checked and on one occasion a driver was spoken to, as his car was parked on the pavement.

“Police enquiries continued and on Sunday, November 29, we placed ‘Police Aware’ stickers on the property.

“Since then we have regularly checked the property and it appears unlived-in and we have had no reports that there has been any activity or vehicles on the drive.”

Head of Winnersh’s Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) Pat Rowell said: “It just cropped up all of a sudden and really shocked me.

“The police investigated it after being alerted by people concerned about the amount of traffic to it.

“Winnersh is a small, quiet village and you just do not expect this kind of thing.”

Residents can report suspicious activity by calling 08458 505 505.

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