HE MADE THOUSANDS BY FORCING WOMAN INTO PROSTITUTION
Craig Nicholas, from Warrington, pleaded guilty to two counts of controlling prostitution for gain and assault.He made thousands of pounds—between £70,000 and £80,000—by pressuring a woman into prostitution.
The victim felt "worthless and not good enough," as Nicholas arranged meetings, drove her to clients' homes, and rented hotel rooms and a flat for the encounters.
Clients sometimes became violent, and when she complained, Nicholas responded callously: "What the f*** do you want me to do?" The prostitution business ended during the Covid-19 outbreak, but Nicholas returned to criminal activity in 2024 after experiencing financial difficulties due to a serious accident in 2018, which left him on crutches and struggling financially.
He appeared in Liverpool Crown Court via a video link and pleaded guilty to controlling prostitution for gain, along with assault against a different victim.
Prosecutor Suzanne Payne highlighted that his offending started in 2018 when he advertised the victim’s services online, despite her feeling she had no choice.
He would arrange meetings and drive her to clients, with the business expanding to include rented hotel rooms and a flat.
The victims sometimes experienced violence, which Nicholas failed to prevent or help with, treating her as a means to make money.
The court was told that in 2018, the victim's work was valued between £70,000 and £80,000, which Nicholas benefited from.
The case also referenced his limited capacity to acknowledge others' feelings, as found in a probation report.
Sentencing resulted in a 30-month prison term.
