14-year-old girl 'worked at brothel'

THE owner and manager of a Melbourne brothel have been charged with allowing a 14-year-old girl to work as a prostitute.

Andrew William Hewinson and Janette Woods each face more than 100 charges for letting the girl - who is still at school - work at the licensed brothel last year.
They are denying the charges.
Police allege the girl worked at Pickwood Lodge, in Lygon Street, Brunswick, between March 11 and May 20 last year.
It is understood the girl, now 15, has been taken into the care of the Salvation Army.
Brothel owner Mr Hewinson, 45, of Lower Templestowe, and manager Ms Woods, 54, of Brookfield, were listed to appear for a contested hearing in Melbourne Magistrates' Court today, but the case was adjourned.
Both are charged with 117 offences under the Prostitution Control Act.
They each face 39 counts of receiving payment knowing it was derived from sexual services provided by a child, 39 counts of allowing a child to take part in prostitution without taking reasonable steps to prove the child was over 18 and 39 counts of allowing a child to take part in the act of prostitution.
It is understood Ms Woods managed the brothel but no longer works there.
Ms Woods' lawyer, Zoe Broughton, told the court today she feared publicity of the case would affect her employment.
Neither Mr Hewinson nor his legal representative was in court.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Nick Papadopoulos requested the matter be adjourned because the victim was unavailable today to give evidence.
Magistrate James Mornane adjourned the hearing until January.
On its website, Pickwood Lodge promotes itself as a discrete establishment "where it all happens", promising its customers "total confidentiality" and a "once in a lifetime experience you can have over and over again".