Guilty! Man ran brothels with mum

David Howard, 41, of Canvey Road, Canvey, helped operate the business by hiring girls and managing two brothels.

David Howard, his mum Adele Lubin, 62, and uncle Spencer Rolfe, 61, were all involved.

Lubin used her two beauty businesses as fronts for bordellos in Watford Way, Hendon, and nearby Kenton Road, Harrow. A third massage parlour, where Eastern European and oriental girls offered clients "extras", was set up above a busy shopping parade in The Broadway, Mill Hill.

The three defendants were arrested last year after a lengthy police probe in which undercover police officers were offered sex and a female officer was offered a job as a prostitute.

Phillip Bennetts, prosecuting, said: "The premises were searched and it was quite apparent they were being used for the provision of sexual services, for example a large number of condoms were recovered."

Lubin owned the brothels in Watford Way and in Kenton Road, but a third property in The Broadway was rented by Rolfe under a fake name.

Rolfe, a masseur of Green Avenue, Mill Hill, had placed an advert for staff in a magazine which was answered by an undercover police officer.

Judge Martin Beddoe told the David Howard, Lubin and Rolfe they would be sentenced for the crimes, which took place between December 1, 2006 and April 24, 2007, next month.

Granting them bail, he said: "This is not to be taken as an indication that you will not receive a custodial sentence."

After the verdict, David Howard's father Ray, county and borough councillor for Canvey, said he was "utterly devastated" and insisted his son was innocent.

He said: "David is well-known locally as having a good heart and the public support I have received for him during this time has been overwhelming.

"Neither his family or his friends could believe David would knowingly involve himself in any criminal activity.

"In my view David was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I will continue to give support to my son David, as any dad would."