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Brothel Owner Jailed

The police and sex workers are applauding the jailing of a Christ­church man who recruited a 16-year ­old girl for his suburban brothel.

William Archibold Gillanders, 61, was the first man to be charged `under new laws that decriminalised prostitution but increased the penal­ties for those helping underage girls ,work in the industry.

Christchurch District Court Judge Stephen Ember said Gliders had earned at least $3000 in less than a month as his cut of the "unstable" girl's income. "She was 16, imma­ture, and vulnerable," he said. "You went into this with your eyes open. You told police you knew she was 16 and you decided to take the risk."

Gillanders was sentenced to 21 months' jail, with the chance of applying to serve his sentence at home blocked by the judge because he ran his business from home.

The sentence was hailed outside court by New Zealand Prostitutes Collective spokeswoman Anna Reed and Detective Todd Hamilton, the officer in charge of the case.

Ms Reed said she had hoped for a longer sentence but it would still serve to deter anyone who thought they could recruit underage prostitute with impunity.

Ms Reed accepted an unintended consequence of the jail term could mean more underage girls working

unsupported on the street and not in the relative safety of a brothel.

Mr Hamilton described the sen­tence as satisfactory. "I think this will be a warning and send o signal to other people in the industry," he said.      - NZPA

Sourced:  NZ Herald May 2005