A man went on trial this week accused of controlling prostitutes and running brothels in Medway.

Tomas Ziemys was responsible for operating 10 brothels in Rochester, Gillingham, Chatham, Strood, St Mary’s Island, Aylesford and Maidstone and one in London, it was alleged.

Prosecutor James Lofthouse told Maidstone Crown Court the 31-year-old Lithuanian was involved with others over a period of about two years.

Ziemys, he said, would take 50 per cent of the prostitutes’ income and charge them rent for the premises he ‘managed’.

Police first raided a brothel in Acton Street, London, in November, 2013, and found a scantily clad young woman and mobile phones in a ‘control room’.

A tenancy agreement for the premises had been taken out by Ziemys, said Mr Lofthouse.

A woman answered an advert on a Lithuanian website for escorts and she was set up in a flat at Century Court in Rochester with another woman.

Ziemys took photos of them and put them on websites, detailing services offered.

They would charge £100 for an hour and £70 for 30 minutes.

Other premises were rented in Skinner Street and Watling Street, Gillingham; Clifford Way, Maidstone; Ingram Close, Larkfield; Watersmeet, St Mary’s Island; London Road and St Francis Close, Strood and an unknown address in Chatham.

Mr Lofthouse said in the early hours of January 30 last year police were called to an incident at the Clifford Way address in Maidstone.

Ziemys was in the passenger seat of a BMW car. He told officers he wanted to meet some ladies. He made no comment when asked if he was in charge of the flat.

Police went there again on April 28, after complaints from other residents. A number of Lithuanian women were found there.

Ziemys claimed he did building work and ferried people back and forth to airports.

But Mr Lofthouse said it was clear he controlled the women and premises.

Ziemys, of Highgrove Road, Chatham, denies three charges of controlling prostitution for gain and 10 of keeping a brothel used for prostitution.

The trial continues.