A massage parlour in Solihull, described as notorious by locals, has been forcibly closed by authorities following a police investigation that uncovered evidence of sexual exploitation and the trafficking of women.
A Cry for Help and Police Intervention
Dragon Phoenix Massage on Hatchford Road became the subject of a closure order granted by Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, November 26. The court heard that West Midlands Police had attended the premises on multiple occasions, each time finding different women illegally working and living at the site.
The situation escalated when a customer contacted the police after a woman at the parlour distressed and whispered 'help, call the police' to him during a visit on November 8. Officers who responded found two women described as 'unkept and nervous'. One woman revealed she had been smuggled into the UK, had no work permit, and that her passport had been stolen. The other stated she was working to pay off a debt accrued in China.
A Pattern of Exploitation and Denial
This was not an isolated incident. On a previous visit on July 21, police encountered two Chinese women who did not have passports and were not permitted to work due to outstanding asylum claims. One of the women was found to have bruises on her body. During this visit, officers discovered black bags containing tissues with dried semen.
Representing the police, J Ockenden stated the application for the closure order was due to concerns the premises was being used for sex work and for the trafficking and exploitation of women. The court was also told that the business's director, Carl Aldo Tirrito, aged 49, owned another massage parlour in a different area facing similar allegations.
Mr Tirrito refuted all claims, labelling the police actions a 'witch hunt' and suggesting negative reviews from unhappy customers were to blame. His solicitor, Mazar Iqbal, confirmed that while Mr Tirrito did not attend the hearing, he did not contest the application and intended to move his business out of the area.
Community Impact and Court Ruling
The parlour's activities had a visible impact on the community. An anonymous resident reported an incident in July where a half-naked man was seen being thrown out of the building by two women, one dressed in a maid's outfit, in front of school children on an excursion.
Furthermore, the business had been reviewed on websites for sexual establishments, where it was described by patrons as a 'w*** shop'. Despite no arrests being made, the magistrates granted the three-month closure order. The solicitor for the parlour requested that Mr Tirrito be allowed to collect his personal belongings from the premises on a pre-arranged date.
