TRADERS and residents are calling on the authorities to “clean up the streets” after police said a massage parlour was operating as a brothel.

Rose Beauty and Body Shop in Pokesdown has been reported as attracting men who are seeking sexual services and this has led to fears for the safety of children and workers.

Owner Zhijie Johnson’s application for retrospective consent to use the shop in Bournemouth’s Christchurch Road as a beauty salon was turned down last week and it is expected to close next month.

Read the report sent to the council

And when an Echo reporter visited for a massage and asked if sexual services were available he was given a price before leaving.

One of those who welcomed the news was 22-year-old Brogan McCormack, who has had clients coming into her salon, Hand Made Beauty, asking for ‘extras’.

She said: “If they want to clean up the streets in this area they can’t have things like this going on.

“I worry about the type of people it might attract into an area where there are children, schools and businesses nearby.

“I don’t have a problem with people doing what they do but this is not the right area.

“I’ve had people coming in asking if I offer sex or extras, and I have had a couple of problems with awkward clients who have been like stalkers. It was funny at first but I am fed up now. It has become ridiculous and I am worried about working on my own.”

Andy Jones, secretary of the Pokesdown Community Forum, said: “The forum has been working hard to improve the image of this area and to encourage people to come here.

“This kind of establishment damages the reputation of Pokesdown.

“The main issue people mention is safety – residents are concerned about the kind of people who might be attracted into the area.

“The refusal of change of use consent here is a significant step forward.”

THE council report made ahead of the planning application decision says police visited and found a basement room locked from the outside with a client and member of staff inside.

It states that when spoken to by officers the man was “very keen on leaving as well as being worried that his wife should not be told he was there”.

Another client said he was offered a sexual service before “and was expecting this type of service again”.

The police comments state: “From the information gathered at this visit and the complaints being received from members of the public about these premises we believe that it is being used as a brothel.”

The police objected to the planning application and stated they would be asking landlord Dave Wells to consider ending the tenancy.

Bournemouth council officers turned down the planning application, citing concerns over crime and disorder, and stating that it was inappropriate for the area and would harm local businesses.

Boscombe Police Inspector Chris Weeks said officers confirmed the shop was being used as a brothel over two unannounced visits after community concerns were raised.

“Running a brothel is illegal and we will always take action to close them down if it is causing concern for the community,” he said.

“There are several options for doing so, using other legislation, but in this case we decided it was a good option to use the planning application to achieve the desired result.”

Boscombe East ward councillor John Wilson said he was glad the application had been turned down.

“This application was a camouflage for another sort of business, which is not a nice thing to have in the area and it doesn’t look good,” he added.

“They need to be closed down as soon as is legally possible. They may appeal in this case but I don’t think they will. We will have to wait and see.”

Owner Zhijie Johnson said she was unaware of sexual services being offered at Rose Beauty and Body Shop. And the 51-year-old widow denied that her establishment was a brothel.

When told that a reporter had been told sexual relief would cost £20 she said she did not know and has told her staff not to offer sexual services.

“If you ask private things, I don’t know about that. It’s nothing to do with me and this money does not come to me. If people come here and ask for sex I say we don’t do these things.”

“You can see I have a notice up. I want to do a proper massage and I don’t want people to ask for these ridiculous things.”

Mrs Johnson said they have been doing massages since May 2011.

She added: “This is not a brothel. The police have come here, the landlord has come here, they have no evidence and they say what they like,” she said.

“There are other places in this area which are brothels, but the police do nothing about them. I work hard but no one in this country has done anything to help me set up a business.

“I would be better off just going on benefits. My customers have said I am the best in Bournemouth. I have a lot of regular customers and have never had anyone ask for their money back. They always leave here happy.”

Mrs Johnson, who moved to the town from Yorkshire two years ago, said she was considering returning to China.

That's only my pocket money - what the Echo was told about sexual services at Rose Beauty

by Arron Hendy

THE door was locked when I turned up at Rose Beauty and Body Shop.

After ringing the bell I was welcomed in by the only member of staff I saw there, probably aged about 30 with a good command of English.

I was told a 30-minute massage would cost me £25 and was led into the dimly-lit ground floor room.

Around the massage table were all sorts of massage oils and products and there was a shower cubicle in the corner, with the heater making the room very warm.

As she turned on the relaxing music I saw a small notice warning “we sell sensual services, not sexual services” and that “we do not offer sexual services or acts of prostitution”.

I chose the 30-minute relaxing massage with one hour and an hour-and-a-half stronger massages also available. 

I’ve never had a massage before. And I really enjoyed the full head and body massage I was given, working the knots out of my shoulders and back in a way that I felt proved she was a very good and professional masseuse.

When she finished I was not offered “a happy ending” or any sexual services. Only when I was getting ready to leave and asked, was I told a sexual act would be £20 and that they do not do full sex.

“Is there anyone else here who does it?” I asked. “The owner does not do anything,” she answered.

“We do only proper massage so we don’t ask customers if they want that. If you are asking and you are happy to pay £20 or £30 and if you are happy then okay. If not, sorry.”   

“Does the boss know you do the other things,” I asked. “No. That’s only my pocket money anyway. I don’t do it for everybody anyway so I don’t have to tell her. I don’t really want to do it. I don’t like it.”

“Do people expect it?” I asked. “I’ve never done it; I’ve been here nearly a month.”

“Did they do it here before do you think?” I asked. “Maybe, and that’s why people are asking.”

As I left another man was waiting to go in.