The site of Reading’s most notorious brothel has been sold to a mystery married couple.

The 263 Club in Oxford Road and the Lost Sock launderette next door were bought together for £529,000 at a London auction on Tuesday, September 19, by the pair who wish to remain anonymous.

The massage parlour was uncovered as a brothel in November last year when its owner was jailed for controlling prostitution at the address.

A jury ruled that Jonathan Leeming was part of a joint enterprise with Lynette Beard and Donna Boorman that processed more than £100,000 through credit card payments from the businesses.

A flat above the brothel was also the bedsit of Adrian Thomas, ringleader of the gang that raped and murdered 16-year-old schoolgirl Mary Ann Leneghan and tried to kill her surviving friend.

But despite its chequered past, the club attracted interest from several buyers at last week’s auction in Piccadilly.

A guide price of £190,000 for each building was smashed, with auctioneer Harman Healy describing the bidding as “intense” and a “frenzy”.

Money from the sale will go to Government Law of Property Act receivers.

The pair bought the former brothel and four-bedroom maisonette above for £261,000. They picked up the launderette, with five-bedroom maisonette above, for £268,000.

Posted: 09|26|06 at 10:30 am. Filed under: UK News.