[imagesource: AFP]

Former England rugby captain Lawrence Dallaglio is in for an awkward time after it emerged in court that his credit card had been used in a London brothel.

Dallaglio, who played 85 times for England and was part of the team that won the 2003 Rugby World Cup, was interviewed by police on the matter last year, as part of their investigation into a gang accused of running a high-class prostitution racket and selling cocaine.

The 47-year-old married father of two’s credit card was among the 180 000 credit and debit card receipts police discovered when they raided the brothel in Holborn, central London, in July 2019.

The Telegraph reports:

…a bag discovered in the basement of the building contained receipts showing four payments which came to a total of £10,550 had been made on his credit card in March 22 last year. It was not known if he had gone to the brothel, either alone or with anyone else.

They show £3,000 was sent to an account belonging to Kristian Kodra, an Albanian employee at the brothel, as well as a total of £7,550 to another account owned by Alexandra Galis, the 23-year-old Romanian “madam” of the brothel. Both were jailed for their part in running the brothel.

Their trial heard that the gang made at least £400,000 in the six months before the brothel was shut down by police. Punters were said to be paying £300 an hour for prostitutes working there.

A product used to cut cocaine was also found in the house, along with receipts that suggest people were paying between £80 and £100 for a gram.

What an utter waste of money.

Dallaglio hasn’t been charged with any crime, and no further action will be taken against him. It’s worth noting that Dallaglio stepped down as England captain in 1999, following allegations that he had used hard drugs, including cocaine and ecstasy, when celebrating the British Lions’ 1997 series win over South Africa.

He has always denied the allegations, and said he was involved in a set-up, but these credit card transactions don’t do his claims any favours.

A number of people, including a Kosovan Albanian, an Albanian, a Romanian, and a Hong Kong national have been jailed for their roles in the brothel’s operations.

[source:telegraph]