By CASEY NEILL
GUTTER-CRAWLERS caught asking police officers posing as prostitutes for sex in Dandenong will cough up $4000 in fines.
Eight offenders pleaded guilty to solicitation at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 6 February. No convictions were recorded, but the men were ordered to pay a fine of about $500 each.
Three other cases were adjourned until 5 March.
The charges stemmed from sting operations on Scott Street on 12 September and 14 November last year involving police wearing recording equipment and acting as street sex workers.
Police arrested a 32-year-old man on 12 September after he approached an undercover officer on Scott Street and agreed to pay $50 for oral sex.
He pleaded guilty and asked for leniency because it was his first offence.
The court heard the painter and his wife now had a two-day-old baby.
Magistrate Greg Connellan said the man could be fined 10 penalty units or sentenced to one month in prison under the Sex Workers Act.
“One of its major thrusts for a number of reasons is to encourage people to use brothels rather than engage on the street,” he said.
He said protecting sex workers and public safety were two other aims.
“They’re also directed at the mix between sex work and drug work and supply,” he said.
“It’s a significant offence and it’s directed toward important public policy purposes.”
Magistrate Connellan fined the man $600 and did not record a conviction.
A second offender, 28, also pleaded guilty, via an interpreter and lawyer Bilal Amani.
The prosecution alleged he engaged a police officer posing as a sex worker on Scott Street about noon on 14 November.
The court heard he asked for sex, and suggested $50 when asked how much he was willing to pay.
Mr Amani said his client arrived in Australia as a refugee about 18 months ago, had no family or friends here and lived with three other refugees.
Mr Amani said his client had not received proper support to integrate into the community and didn’t understand the laws.
“He understands now that it’s illegal and I’ve explained to him why it’s not allowed on the streets,” he said.
Magistrate Connellan did not record a conviction, on the condition that man not commit any further offences before 6 August, and pay $100 to the court fund to assist people in need.
He also required him to seek support from the Southern Migrant Resource Centre (SMRC) and provide the court with a letter from the centre confirming this.
Police held prostitution blitzes in central Dandenong in July, September and November last year.
They followed a Star News Group report in February that a 70-year-old woman was propositioned outside her Scott Street home and a story in July that gutter-crawlers propositioned a 19-year-old as she waited for a bus in Scott Street.
“If you’re caught soliciting prostitutes you’ll be charged and thrown before a court,” Sergeant Pat Green said.
“Summonses will be delivered to home addresses.”
He said the zero tolerance approach would continue until the behaviour was gone.
“The police are working with other government agencies to look at the problem from a different angle, not only from enforcement,” he said.
Sgt Green urged people to anonymously report prostitution to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or call him at Dandenong Police Station on 9767 7444.
