A WIDOWED mother who earned £400 a week by running a brothel was given 80 hours' community punishment by a judge.

Lesley Harris, aged 42, of Old Swan Close, Egerton, may now be ordered to hand over the cash she made at the brothel.

Burnley Crown Court heard she made the cash from the girls, who provided sex at the property in the town's Briercliffe Road.

The brothel was open seven days a week, apart from at Christmas and New Year, and their services had been advertised in a daily newspaper.

Harris was given 80 hours' community punishment and 12 months' community rehabilitation after she admitted assisting in the management of a brothel.

She will now face a Proceeds of Crime hearing on December 17.

Kendal Lindley, prosecuting, told the court the case was the first of its kind to appear before the Crown Court and would normally be dealt with by magistrates.

Under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the Crown could insist that a case be sent to the Crown Court for confiscation.

Mr Lindley said in 2003 the defendant was subject to observations and covert surveillance after police received information that a brothel was being run on Briercliffe Road.

On March 19, the premises were raided and officers found the defendant together with some young females.

Officers discovered the "usual paraphernalia", of a brothel, such as items of a sexual nature and, crucially, a diary detailing the services given by the females.

Mr Lindley said when she was interviewed by police Harris admitted getting £300 to £400 a week from the girls providing services. She later tried to claim she was a £30-a-week receptionist.

Andrew Nuttall, defending, said Harris was a care worker and had been properly vetted by the police.

Mr Nuttall said the defendant had done her best to support her 16-year-old son after losing her husband at a very early age through tragic circumstances.

He added: "She is not evil and certainly not a danger to the public."