Glossop man in bid to appeal court conviction

Steven Jones was sentenced to eight months in prison in September for running massage parlour Cristal Main.

The 58-year-old admitted keeping the brothel, on Amelia Street, Denton, since 2004, at Tameside Magistrates’ Court last July.

But at a hearing at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on Friday, Iain Johnstone, defending, said he had lodged an application on behalf of his client to overturn his conviction.

The defendant, of Simmondley Lane, claimed that before his first court appearance, police had told him if he pleaded guilty to the charges he would not face a custodial sentence.

Prosecutor Darren Preston said that Jones had no right to appeal his conviction as he pleaded guilty and that it was also too late, as he was convicted ten months ago.

He added if the defence were alleging the defendant was coerced into a guilty plea, they should be asking the court to vacate his plea on the basis it was equivocal.

A proceeds of crime hearing was adjourned until August 1.