Two Redhill women who were sentenced last year for managing brothels in Sussex and money laundering offences have received confiscation orders totalling almost £15,000.

Ping Hylott, 48, from Nutfield Road, Redhill, and Lihua Na, 46, from Richmond Road, Redhill, appeared before Lewes Crown Court last October after an investigation by Sussex Police's Money Laundering Team identified them as managing brothels in Horsham, Haywards Heath and Lewes.

Hylott was given a 12-month sentence and Na received a nine month sentence, both of which were suspended for two years.

A confiscation hearing last Friday (March 11) under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 heard that Hylott had profited from the brothels to the value of £98,977.99.

She was issued with a confiscation order for £12,840.13, with 28 days to pay, together with a default sentence of six months on failure to pay the order.

At a similar hearing on February 25, Na was issued with an order for £3,000 - with three months to pay, together with a default sentence of two months on failure to do so - after the court heard she had benefited from her criminal activity by nearly £28,000.

Detective Constable Annette Woodland from Sussex Police's money laundering team, said: "This was a thorough investigation which involved officers from Sussex Police with support from other agencies.”

She said: "Although many people refer to prostitution as 'the oldest trade,' managing a brothel is a criminal offence.

“Legislation allows for one woman to work from a premises and the general interpretation of this is that she is working for herself.

“However, it was clear from the investigation, guilty pleas and subsequent confiscation orders, that Hylott and Na were instrumental in the management of brothels in Sussex, and they have benefited financially as a result of this.”

Det Con Woodland said: "This investigation has not been about targeting women who may choose to work in the sex industry for themselves.

“It's been about identifying exploitation and bringing to justice those that control, manage and benefit financially from brothels, as well as stripping criminals of their assets and recovering the proceeds of crime."

Hylott and Na were arrested last September after police raided brothels in Lewes and Horsham, which were under surveillance.

Four brothels where identified - two were in Horsham at Denne Road and Queen Street, while the others were in South Road, Haywards Heath, and Court Road, Lewes.