St Kilda salon Steam Bar & Beauty declared illegal brothel after sex assault probe
A shady St Kilda salon has been ousted as a saucy sex den after police were greeted with a young woman with exposed cleavage.
Inner South
Don't miss out on the headlines from Inner South . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A St Kilda salon has been declared an illegal brothel following an investigation into an alleged sex assault.
Steam Bar & Beauty had the doors slammed shut on its illicit sex den trade by the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
Sex Industry cops applied to have the Grey St brothel cobbled after a short investigation exposed the venue’s saucy secrets.
Investigators who visited the venue were greeted with an Asian woman in thongs and a tight red dress which exposed her cleavage and back, the court was told.
Police failed to discover any evidence Steam Bar & Beauty operated as a legitimate massage therapy and beauty salon which the business claimed to be.
Investigators discovered rooms with solid lockable doors which contained double beds within the two-storey building wedged between a tattooist and a laundry.
A person at the venue who claimed to be the manager told police the owner of the business was their daughter Tse Ka Lee.
Ms Ka Lee, who failed to front at court, had the proscribed brothel notice slapped on her name in her absence.
Police also uncovered saucy ads on sex classified site Locanto which proved the salon was offering sex on the sly.
The ads were submitted to the court as evidence.
A witness told police they were twice offered sexual services at the bogus salon earlier this year.
Steam Bar & Beauty claims to offer massage therapy and foot steams which provide enhanced “blood flow within the blood vessels” according to the salon’s Facebook page.
The business also promotes its services will improve sleep quality, alleviate fatigue, strengthen immunity and improve “general health”.
The shonky 121 Grey St site has a dodgy history with the court hearing it was proscribed a brothel back in 2018.
Victoria Police Sex Industry Coordination Unit Senior Constable Martin Alessandro told the court he probed the salon while investigating an alleged sexual assault.
Mr Alessandro also said an ad for sexual services linked to the venue was updated the day before Thursday’s court hearing.
Magistrate Tara Hartnett took no time at all in granting the application and declaring Steam Bar & Beauty a proscribed brothel.
Management must display the proscribed brothel notice in a prominent position at the entry of the business.
The order means anyone who enters the business — unless for a lawful purpose — could cop a prison term.
Kath & Kim’s Jane Turner lists Melbourne mansion
Kath & Kim star, comedian and actor Jane Turner, has listed her rather effluent Elwood mansion for sale. Grab some cardonnay and take a squiz at the home’s impressive fretful ironwork.
Footballer’s fightback from horror injury to win unique honour
A Melbourne footballer who lost vision in one eye in a horror on-field incident will be the inaugural winner of a club award carrying his name. Here is what we know.