Two Swansea Properties at Centre of Brothel Allegations in Ongoing Trial
A man accused of orchestrating the operation of two brothels in the city of Swansea is currently standing trial, amid claims he played a pivotal role in illegal activities taking place at two terraced houses. Crisit-denis Miclescu, aged 24, faces serious allegations after properties he is linked to were allegedly used as venues for prostitution, sparking a detailed police investigation.
The properties in question, located on Norfolk Street in the Mount Pleasant area and on Francis Street near Victoria Park and St Helen’s, have become focal points in the prosecution’s case. It is claimed by authorities that both addresses were rented by Miclescu himself during the periods in question. Despite the gravity of the charges, Miclescu was notably absent when the trial opened at Swansea Crown Court, with proceedings continuing in his absence following legal discussions between the prosecution and defence.
Prosecuting barrister Craig Jones told jurors that the investigation first took shape in October 2022, when officers attended the Norfolk Street address. On arrival, police encountered three Romanian women in the front room. Phones recovered from the scene subsequently provided prosecutors with a trove of digital evidence, including messages indicating the apparent advertisement and arrangement of sexual services for payment.
Attention soon shifted to the second address on Francis Street. Police first visited this property in March 2023, finding five women there as well as Miclescu himself. No formal search was carried out during this initial visit, but a return visit in early April saw police again encounter five women at the address, along with the defendant. According to court reports, Miclescu attempted to flee the property via the garden but was apprehended before he could escape. As before, officers seized several mobile phones which have since formed a key part of the prosecution’s case.
An underpinning theme of the trial has been the financial investigation into Miclescu’s bank accounts. Analysis has revealed that over £150,000 was credited to his accounts between November 2021 and April 2023. Notably, investigators were unable to find evidence of legitimate salary or wage payments during this time. Instead, a substantial portion of outgoing transactions—totalling almost £10,000—were traced to a website known for hosting adult service adverts.
Additional evidence presented to the jury includes records of bulk orders of condoms from an Amazon account attributed to the defendant, reinforcing suspicions about the function of the rented addresses. Mobile phone data further points towards widespread distribution of the properties’ postcodes to prospective clients, often accompanied by instructions or door colour to facilitate access. Such evidence, the prosecution asserts, establishes Miclescu’s ‘hands-on’ involvement in the running of the suspected brothels.
On his arrest, Miclescu denied any wrongdoing in prepared statements to the police, rejecting claims that he had any knowledge of or control over activities at the properties. Nevertheless, the Crown maintains that he was instrumental in both “controlling, assisting, and facilitating” the operation of the houses as functioning brothels.
The first day of trial testimony included detailed evidence from South Wales Police constable Neil Lofthouse, who guided jurors through a series of incriminating text conversations recovered from the seized devices. These conversations not only referenced specific sexual acts and costs, but routinely ended with the transmission of one of the property postcodes—sometimes complemented by extra directions about how to locate the address.
The trial of Crisit-denis Miclescu, of Jones Terrace, Mount Pleasant, Swansea, continues. He faces two counts of keeping a brothel. As the case develops, the court is expected to hear further evidence from forensic financial analysts, police investigators, and potentially former tenants or visitors to the two properties under scrutiny.
This high-profile case reflects wider issues around the policing of suspected brothels in urban centres, with authorities under pressure to address exploitation and public order concerns while ensuring due process for the accused. The outcome of this trial is likely to influence how similar cases are approached in South Wales moving forward.