Vice cops who raided ‘photographic studio’ caught

Vice cops who raided ‘photographic studio’ caught a naked couple having sex, a court was told.

Colin Markland’s two bedroomed flat had been transformed into a fully equipped brothel complete with adult sized school uniforms and nurse outfits, it was alleged.

There was also a well stocked video library featuring titles such as ‘Animals’ ‘Sex Slave Traders’ and ‘Watersports and Things.

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Hardcore footage showed included a man having a button sewn onto his nipple and graphic scenes of depraved sex with farmyard animals, Inner London Crown Court heard.

Other titles depicted a man with a full bucket of water attached to his genitals and and a woman whose vagina had been padlocked shut.

Markland, 45, had advertised in the respected magazine Practical Photography, offering a ‘private studio’ and a ‘relaxed atmosphere.

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He also booked an advert in the over 50s magazine ‘Golden Days’ offering a massage for advertised his ‘massage’ business to ‘mature gents’.

Prosecutor Ben Summers said: ‘This case concerns a police raid on what the Crown says was a brothel and Mr Markland was concerned with running it.

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Markland allowed his punters to watch the hardcore videos as they had sex with hookers in the flat, Mr Summers said.

‘When the place was raided there was a male and female naked on the bed together, the clearest evidence you could wish to find of prostitution
taking place.

‘The Crown say he was a party to what was going on, the offer of sexual services which included, if requested, the showing of adult videos.

‘In each of the bedrooms were things associated with the sale of sex.

‘The first bedroom was being used to run a business called Venus Massage, in effect a cover for prostitution.

‘In that room you will see items like lingerie hanging on the wall – doubtless to invite prostitutes to change into.

‘Whips, canes, condoms and sex aids, and indeed a menu of services were on offer in that room.

‘In the second room was Keyhole Productions, which produced video films of prostitutes,’ and was equipped as a photographic studio, with tripods and
flash equipment, Mr Summers said.

Cards found at the flat advertising a massage with ‘topless handling’ on sale at pnd stlg 40, and for pnd stlg 70, full sex with a video thrown in.

Markland told police he was aware ‘to some extent’ what his flat was being used for, but later declined to answer further questions.

‘He was basically distancing himself as far as he could from what was manifestly taking place,’ Mr Summers said.

Markland, who lived in the flat at (4) Commonside Court, Streatham High Road, Streatham, denies three counts of having an obscene article for publication for gain on February 4, 2000.

The trial continues.

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