A Labour councillor who was caught in an illegal brothel has been promoted to the leader of his local authority.
New leader of Merthyr Tydfil Borough council in south Wales, Cllr Brent Carter, was present at a backstreet brothel in 2015 when police raided the property.
On Wednesday, the 52-year-old became the Labour council leader after independent councillors lost their majority following a by-election defeat.
Carter had been inside just minutes when police arrived at the address on Merthyr Tydfil’s Regent Street in May 2015.
Cllr Brent Carter has been promoted to the leader of Merthyr Tydfil Borough council
Merthyr Tydfil Borough council
Details of the incident surfaced in September 2017 when the pimp running the sex den, Leon Hall, was tried in court.
During the hearing, the court was told that Carter – who was a Labour councillor at the time – was found “covered in lipstick” inside the property.
Police said that condoms and lubricating gel were also found on the floor.
It was reported that the brothel was staffed by Eastern European women who keep two-thirds of the money.
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Residents claimed that activity at the address had been causing “distress” for a year.
Following the unveiling of the sex den, Carter was reported to the Public Service Ombudsman for breaching the council’s code of conduct.
However, he was not arrested and held his seat.
According to the Ombudsman, there was no evidence that Carter had brought his office or authority into disrepute – “as opposed to bringing himself personally into disrepute”.
Cllr Carter had been inside just minutes when police arrived at the address on Merthyr Tydfil’s Regent Street in May 2015
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Residents have shared their anger over the decision to allow Carter to become the council leader.
“How will people respect the town when its leader has acted in this way?” Simon Ryan told the Daily Mail.
“He was caught red-handed in a brothel – people can’t have faith in a man like that. We will be the laughing stock of the Valleys.
“It’s highly embarrassing for him and for Merthyr Tydfil which has improved its reputation over recent years.”
GB News has contacted Merthyr Tydfil Borough Council for comment.
