A massage parlour in Solihull has been shut down after troubling incidents and allegations of exploitation surfaced. Dragon Phoenix Massage, located on Hatchford Brook Road, became the focus of police investigations and local concern, culminating in a closure order issued by Birmingham Magistrates' Court.
The tipping point came in July when a chaotic scene unfolded in front of schoolchildren during a public excursion. According to West Midlands Police representative J Ockenden, “Two women were attempting to throw a topless man out of the building, accompanied by shouting and screaming. One woman was dressed in a maid’s uniform, which raised further suspicions.”
Authorities carried out three separate visits to the premises in July, October, and shortly before the closure in November. On each occasion, they encountered different women whose identities could not be confirmed by the business owner, Carl Aldo Tirrito. Several of these women lacked passports or the legal right to work in the UK, with some lodged asylum claims pending. Distressingly, one woman reported being smuggled into the country, while another revealed she was working off a debt originating in China.
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The October police visit was prompted by a disturbing report from a client who claimed a worker whispered the word “help,” intensifying concerns over potential exploitation.
Despite the serious allegations, Mr. Tirrito, a director listed with Companies House, did not attend the court hearing on November 26 and chose not to contest the police’s application for a closure order. His legal representative, Mazar Iqbal, dismissed the complaints as malicious, stating, “No one has been arrested and no untoward conduct has been proven. My client feels this is a witch hunt and plans are already underway to relocate the business.”
Following these developments, the magistrates granted a three-month closure order, and it now appears unlikely that Dragon Phoenix Massage will reopen at its current location. The closure comes after sustained community efforts, including concerns raised by residents and councillors, to address illegal and exploitative practices within the establishment.