TWO Wirral men have been jailed after being convicted of running a brothel.

Michael Kolokotroni and Adam Weir ran a 'gentlemen's club' known as Mr Magoo's in Grange Road East, Birkenhead.

Kolokotroni, 49, and Adam Weir, 39, denied keeping a brothel between January 2013 and June 2014 but a jury took less than three hours to find them both guilty.

During their trial at Liverpool Crown Court the jury heard they both have previous convictions for committing the same offence at the same address.

Kolokotroni, of Osmaston Road, Prenton and Weir, of West Road, Birkenhead, were both sentenced to two years in prison today, Friday.

Kelly Reid, 40 years, of Grange Road East, Birkenhead, had pleaded guilty to keeping a brothel at a previous hearing and was handed an eight month sentence suspended for two years.

During the trial Weir said he and Kolokotroni were business partners. He said he knew the premises was a brothel, but that he was not involved in managing or organising it, and took no money from it.

Kolokotroni claimed he had “no knowledge” that the building was once again being used as a brothel. As well as various bedrooms, soon with mirrored ceilings, one had buckles attached to a wooden frame.

The premises had an adult entertainment licence, but this did not allow it to operate as a brothel.  It ceased operation after a police raid in June 2014.

Kolokotroni was convicted in April 2012 of keeping a brothel and Weir was convicted of the offence in January 2005. 

Following today's sentencing, Detective Inspector John Griffith of Wirral CID, said: "All the defendants were arrested in June as part of an on-going crackdown on organised criminality on the Wirral.

"They were quickly charged and today is the culmination of a detailed investigation involving thousands of hours of work by officers. 

"Kolokotroni, Reid and Weir were all consumed by their own greed and never gave a second thought for the vulnerable women who were being exploited.

"This case was never about targeting sex workers.  It is about showing communities across the Wirral that we are determined to bring those involved in serious criminality to justice.

"We'd continue to appeal to anyone with information about serious and organised crime to contact us.  We will act on all the information that we receive."

People can call detectives in Wirral CID on 0151 777 2265 or pass information direct to Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.