Prisoner sets up brothel while on day release from jail

Rashpal Singh, 28, set up the vice den while being "reintegrated into society" by working in the community six days a week during his six year sentence.

But, while prison officers thought he was working for a tyre firm, he was actually operating a brothel from a terraced house in Alma Road, Rotherham.

His release drew criticism from a judge, who said the public would be "surprised" Singh had been let out so early in his sentence.

He was allowed his freedom between 5.30am and 9pm, and staff believed he was working eight-and-a-half hours a day and spending the rest of the time travelling to and from prison on public transport.

In fact he was recruiting prostitutes - mainly Eastern European women - and advertising their services.

Singh, who had been locked up for aggravated burglary after breaking into a house armed with an imitation firearm, took his sex workers to and from the brothel before returning to his cell at Moorland Open Prison in Doncaster.

He is thought to have earned thousands of pounds from his six-month operation. When he was arrested in February he was carrying 2,000 in cash and a large amount of cannabis.

At Sheffield Crown Court he admitted keeping a brothel for prostitution, and.was jailed for a further two years on top of his existing sentence.

Judge Alan Goldsack QC told him: "As far as the prison was concerned you were working eight-and-a-half hour days for a tyre firm in Rotherham which was paying you the minimum wage.

"By contrast, according to the owner of the tyre company, you were not paid at all by him and were not required to work regular hours. You used occasionally to take deliveries but for most of the time he did not know where you were.

"In fact, you used your early freedom to set up and run a brothel from a terraced house in Rotherham.

"You spent money doing up the house, you advertised extensively, and you recruited a number of mainly Eastern European women to provide the services on offer."

The judge added: "I suspect the public will be surprised you were allowed out on day release so early in a lengthy sentence.

"The fact that so few checks, if any, were made that you were actually attending the place where you were supposed to be working will add concern.

"And that you were running this illegal business whilst still actually serving your sentence is a hugely aggravating factor."

A spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service said: "Singh may have thought he was orchestrating a clever criminal plan but, due to the nature of his business and way it was marketed, it was only a matter of time before he was caught out."

A Prison Service spokesperson said: "We don't comment on individual prisoners. All risk assessments are carried out in accordance with normal procedures, this includes random visits by staff to observe prisoners carrying out their work.

"If criminal activity comes to light, it becomes a matter which would be dealt with by the police."