Police have arrested a third person in connection to allegations they ran an illegal commercial sex service involving underage girls – and supplied them with methamphetamine and cannabis.

Stuff can also now name the three people charged as Clayton Fox, 49, Wikitoria Pepene​, 31, and Darby Bronson Whareaorere​, 29.

Last Thursday, Detective Senior Sergeant John Wilson, Bay of Plenty District Headquarters, Child Protection Team announced the arrest of Fox and Pepene, and police confirmed to Stuff on Monday that Whareaorere had also been arrested in connection to the alleged offending.

Fox faces the most charges, including sexual connection with a 13-15 year-old, assisting a girl aged between 14-17 years-old to provide sexual services and receiving payments he knew were derived from commercial sexual services supplied by an under 18-year-old.

He also faces joint charges with Pepene for possession of methamphetamine for distribution, possession of cannabis for distribution and being the operator of a prostitution business despite not holding an operators certificate issued under Section 35 of the Prostitution Reform Act 2003.

Whareaorere faces two charges; that he assisted a 14-17 year-old to provide commercial sexual services, and that he received payment he knew was derived from commercial sexual activity provided by an under 18-year-old.

The charging documents name two underage females, both of whom cannot be named for legal reasons.

According to Wilson, the charges relate to “an illegal commercial sex service involving underage girls and supplied them with cannabis and methamphetamine”.

“Taking advantage of young vulnerable people for financial gain is abhorrent behaviour,” he said.

“We are appalled that children are encouraged to prostitute themselves and police are even more concerned that men are preying on young people in this situation.

“Methamphetamine continues to have a dramatic impact on communities right across the country.

“Police will continue to take every opportunity to hold those selling these harmful substances for gain to account.”

Anyone who believes they are a victim of similar incidents and who has not yet spoken with police is encouraged to do so.

-Benn Bathgate/Stuff.