Evidence withheld over Cuddles brothel case

Police withheld evidence that casts a "serious question mark" over the conviction of a Black Country man who is serving seven years for running a brothel, a court heard.

A judge said he was "greatly distressed" by the claim that officers did not disclose a witness statement in the case of Carl Pritchett, which suggested prostitutes were working at the Cuddles Massage Parlour in Bearwood voluntarily.

Pritchett's case is now being examined by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, and Judge Michael Dudley said he was writing to the country's top prosecutor over the revelations.

Pritchett, aged 57, of The Parade, Dudley, was jailed for running Cuddles in Hagley Road in 2006.

It followed a raid on the brothel in 2005 when police found 19 foreign women employed as sex workers.

It had an average of 490 clients a week, bringing in £3.5 million profit, courts have previously heard.

Yesterday Pritchett appeared before Judge Michael Dudley at Wolverhampton Crown Court for a hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Judge Dudley revealed Pritchett had handed him papers at a previous hearing, which he had now read.

He said: "There is information in there undermining the conviction, that the police were in possession of a statement revealing people were working in these premises voluntarily 16 days before the raid took place."

He said police had publicised the raid as an operation to rescue women who had been trafficked into the country, and that he was "greatly distressed" by the documents.

"I'm pretty sure I was told at the time of the trial there were no statements from prostitutes that in any way undermined the case. But there patently was, 16 days before the raid. It doesn't necessarily mean the conviction will be overturned but all I know is there is a serious question mark and it's blatant non-disclosure."

West Midlands Police spokeswoman Keiley Gartland said today the force would co-operate fully with any review.