A BRACKNELL man who claimed to be a simple handy-man helping out a friend was last week found guilty of managing two brothels where a host of prostitutes worked. 

A list of girls, to-do lists and other receipts were found at a flat owned by Michael Adekoya, who denied playing a major part in the running of two brothels in Maidenhead and claimed a friend, known only as Magda, was the woman behind the business.

The 35-year-old has a number of other businesses and insisted he had only agreed to do some general maintenance work such as putting up shelves at the brothels at 180 Cookham Road and 24A King Street. 

His role became more focused on security and giving the girls working at the brothel lifts home after a robbery at one of the brothels though he had no involvement in the day to day management, his defence claimed.

However, a jury found Adekoya, of Kilmington Close in Bracknell, guilty on two counts of managing or assisting in the management of brothels on Friday, January 7 following a trial at Reading Crown Court. 

Adekoya had paid the rent for the Cookham Road property, known as Sensations Massage Parlour, on a number of occasions which he claimed he did as a favour for 'Magda' and was linked to the organising of shifts for the prostitutes by the prosecution during his trial.

The landlords, who were unaware about the clandestine business taking place, told the court about the difficulty they had in trying to organise visits to the property, which they believed to be home to couple with a young son. 

The brothel in Cookham Road has since been closed down but had run from November 2009 to May 2013 with the second brothel in King Street, known as the Glamour Manor, running between May and June 2013. 

Adekoya was charged with managing the brothels 'together with others' with accomplice Patricia Mills admitting the crimes in August 2014.

Speaking at the trial, Judge Ian Grainger said: "Mr Adekoya said he attended 180 Cookham Road to do maintenance work and he had provided some security for the women there. 

"He understood that Magda rented the rooms for the girls to use. 

"The prosecution claim he was involved in the running of the brothel and played a key role."

Adekoya is due to be sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Friday, January 29.