Judge hails boss of brothel allegedly used by rugby star Dallagio

Albanian boss of brothel allegedly visited by rugby star Lawrence Dallagio escapes being deported after judge hails him as ‘clever and industrious’

• Kristian Kodra received two years for operating the criminal establishment
• His gang made at least £400,000 before police raided the townhouse in Holborn
• Dallaglio was interviewed after officers found he had paid £10,550 to the owners

An Albanian jailed for running a brothel allegedly frequented by rugby star Lawrence Dallaglio has escaped deportation after a judge described him as ‘clever and industrious’.

Kristian Kodra, 25, received two years for operating the criminal establishment that supplied cocaine and prostitutes.

His gang made at least £400,000 in the six months before police raided the Georgian townhouse in Holborn, central London, in July 2019.

Dallaglio, 50, a married father of three, was interviewed under caution after officers found he had paid £10,550 to the owners – including £3,000 to Kodra.

The 2003 Rugby World Cup winner was not arrested and it was never established what he paid for or whether he was alone during his visits.

Dallaglio, 50, a married father of three, was interviewed under caution after officers found he had paid £10,550 to the owners – including £3,000 to Kodra. The 2003 Rugby World Cup winner was not arrested and it was never established what he paid for or whether he was alone during his visits

Kristian Kodra, 25, received two years for operating the criminal establishment that supplied cocaine and prostitutes (pictured: Kodra as a teenager)

His gang made at least £400,000 in the six months before police raided the Georgian townhouse in Holborn, central London, in July 2019

The BT Sport pundit did not appear or give evidence during the six-week trial at Wood Green Crown Court, north London, in March 2020. 

However, his name and alleged spending was revealed to the jury by prosecutors. 

They sought to establish that the brothel’s profits came from vice by pointing to various transactions including those involving Dallaglio. His name emerged as detectives trawled through 180,000 transactions.

Despite Kodra’s conviction for managing a brothel, possessing criminal property and possession of false ID he has been told he can remain in Britain.

Upholding his appeal against deportation on human rights grounds, Judge Cordella Bart-Stewart said: ‘There is no evidence that he poses a risk to the public. 

‘He is a clever and industrious young man with the potential to contribute much to society. He has a home here and support.

‘He would be able to work. I find that the public interest does not require the appellant to be deported from the United Kingdom.’

She also noted that he had ‘severe haemophilia’ and would not have access to the same level of treatment in Albania – affecting his life expectancy.

Kodra claimed asylum in the UK when he was 15 and was granted limited leave to remain before appealing to extend it in 2017. 

READ MORE: Just 215 of the 45,728 Channel migrants who arrived by small boat last year were deported from UK, figures show

After an initial rejection he was granted leave for a further 18 months in July 2019 – the month he was arrested for running the brothel.

In reaching her verdict last summer, Judge Bart-Stewart noted the findings of Judge Pears who granted him that leave.

She said: ‘Judge Pears had noted the appellant’s ties to the UK. He had found him to be an impressive young man. He had allowed the appeal on human rights grounds as a result.’ 

Judge Bart-Stewart’s ruling was appealed but the Upper Tribunal upheld her decision in March. It found Kodra’s claim succeeded on the grounds of Article 8 of the Human Rights Act – which states everyone has the right to respect for private and family life.

Kodra’s gang received over 25 years in prison in total.

His case comes after the Home Office admitted it had deported less than one in 200 of the record 45,728 migrants who came across the Channel in small boats last year. 

Just 215 of those who made it to the UK via the Dover Strait were removed, a freedom of information request revealed.

Lawyers have also frustrated attempts to fly illegal immigrants to Rwanda.

Plans to house thousands of asylum seekers in a ccommodation centres across Britain, including on barges and at former military bases, were confirmed last month.

More than 51,000 are being put up in hotels at a daily cost of £6.2million.

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