Western Sydney brothel fined for operating during lockdown after police bust

A western Sydney brothel has been hit with huge fines for operating during lockdown, with one client offering police a bizarre excuse.

Employees and clients at a western Sydney brothel have been fined $12,500 after the business continued to operate during the citywide lockdown.

Officers were called to a brothel on Monday night at Rydalmere after a call was made to Crime Stoppers about a possible breach.

Police said they spoke with the 57-year-old female owner before finding three female employees, aged 31, 36 and 56, inside.

Two male clients, aged 56 and 57, were also inside the premises, and none were wearing masks, according to police.

Police said they all denied that the business was operating, with one man claiming that he was providing a quote for paint works. The other said he was visiting his girlfriend.

Detectives later confirmed the business had been operating, NSW Police said in a statement.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon said later on Tuesday that massage parlours and brothels were both prohibited from operating under the current public health orders.

He said seven people had been fined for operating or being within the Rydalmere brothel on Monday night.

Each of the people involved were fined for not wearing masks and breaching curfew, aside from the 36-year-old woman who was living at the property.

The owner was also fined $5000.

Officers told the group to go home, but police allege the 31-year-old woman tried to return to the brothel a short time later.

She was arrested and charged with not complying with curfew in an area of concern and not wearing a fitted face covering in the indoor area of common property.

The Strathfield woman was granted conditional bail and will front court in October.

Originally published as Western Sydney brothel fined for operating during lockdown after police bust