Top secret investigation into senior police officers’ alleged Sydney brothel visit

Several senior police officers who allegedly enjoyed free hospitality at a brothel owned by a colourful racing identity are the subject of a top-secret investigation.

Multiple police sources have told the Herald that CCTV footage from a decade ago has emerged which shows that at least two senior officers visited Stiletto, a Camperdown brothel.

At the time, Stiletto was owned by high-profile gambler Eddie Hayson, 56, who is behind bars awaiting trial over the supply of large commercial quantities of prohibited drugs.

Eddie Hayson, speaking at a press conference in 2016, was the former owner of Stiletto.Credit: Louise Kennerley

It is alleged the officers were provided with free services. The matter is understood to have been referred to the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission which investigates allegations of serious misconduct by the NSW Police Force.

The LECC declined to comment to The Sydney Morning Herald.

The NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb has asked for a confidential briefing from the LECC following inquiries from the Herald.

In 2014, Hayson lost control of the brothel and declared himself insolvent with debts of $52 million. Once described as the “Taj Mahal of Sydney brothels,” Stiletto was taken over by a relative to whom Hayson owed millions of dollars.

The exterior of the brothel Stiletto on Parramatta Road in CamperdownCredit: Dominic Lorrimer

At a press conference in 2016, Hayson said that judges, police officers and other people of influence had attended his brothel. When asked whether he had ever tried to use their attendance as leverage over them, he replied, “No, definitely not.”

Hayson’s press conference was held to deny allegations that he had been involved in rugby league match fixing. He agreed at his press conference that he’d provided free sex for footballers and jockeys, but he denied that he expected anything in return.

“That is how I was promoting my business,” Hayson said. “Word of mouth is a very powerful tool.”

Hayson was never charged with match fixing and there have been no findings against him.

In 2006, Hayson and fellow punter Steve Fletcher won an estimated $2 million on a betting plunge after allegedly receiving inside information that then Newcastle Knights star Andrew Johns would not be playing due to injury.

At the time, Hayson owned racehorses with Johns and his brother Matthew. A subsequent investigation by the NRL found nothing amiss and no criminal charges were laid.

In 2016, Strike Force Nuralda was established to investigate allegations of match-fixing in the NRL.

The following year, the strike force announced it had not found any organised match fixing and no wrongdoing was found against Hayson. But footballers were found to be betting on games in which they played.

In February 2024, Hayson was arrested on the Gold Coast. Police have alleged that on August 10, 2023, Hayson was involved in the planning and transportation of 16 kilograms of methylamphetamine and five kilograms of MDMA from Sydney to Perth via a private plane. The drugs, which had a street value of $5 million, were later seized in Perth.

His matter is due to return to court for mention on April 3.

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