A FORMER businessman who pleaded guilty at Derry Crown Court to running a brothel has been handed community service.
Paul McGrory (54), from Ardfada in the Ardmore area of the city, ran the brothel from a house at Argyle Street in the Rosemount area between February and November 2016.
The father-of-three rented the terrace house to sex workers for nine months between February and November 2016 after he was declared bankrupt.
McGrory also admitted to acquiring £17,375 of criminal property and using rent money given to him by the sex workers to pay off credit card bills totalling £7,668.
He was sentenced to sixty hours of community service.
Judge Philip Babington warned McGrory if he did not abide by his probation conditions he would be jailed.
The court heard that the brothel was discovered after people living in Argyle Street complained to police.
The sex workers, from Hungary, Romania, Poland and Lithuania, were contacted by McGrory through an adult website.
The court heard that since McGrory's brothel-keeping was uncovered in November 2016, he has lost the trust of his wife and children.
Judge Babington said it was clear from the pre-sentence report that McGrory came from a privileged background but had ended up bankrupt.
"He travelled to England and to the Republic of Ireland looking for work but he had little success. If one believes him he fell into this arrangement almost by accident," the judge said.
Judge Babington said the maximum sentence for the crimes was seven years in jail.
