A grandmother who ran two brothels and made thousands of pounds profit has escaped an immediate jail sentence.

Beverly Bondon, 55, set up prostitutes working in two flats in Sussex and is said to have made more than £430,000 in six years.

She claimed she did not realise it was against the law because she believed the premises were legal if only one woman worked at a time.

At Lewes Crown Court, Bondon, of Furnace Parade, Furnace Green, Crawley, admitted two offences of keeping brothels used for prostitution.

The flats were in Manorfields, Horsham, and Dobson Road, Crawley.

The court heard she made the money while she and her partner lived in a flat with the rent paid by the local council.

Bondon was forced to sell the flats following her arrest after legal action was taken against her under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Her total assets are £93,868.42, which will now be confiscated by the court.

She was given a 12-month jail sentence suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work in the community.

Judge Charles Kemp told Bondon she had made a very reasonable living out of illegal practices.

Walton Hornsby, prosecuting, said Bondon had worked as a prostitute and a receptionist at a brothel before starting up her own business.

He said she bought the two modest flats and set about advertising for customers and arranging their visits.

She received £25 from the prostitutes for each customer.

When police raided the properties there was no suggestion she used underage girls or that anyone was forced to work.

Referring to the type of services offered, he said: "It was fairly straight-forward. Nothing unusual."

Steven Hadley, defending, said Bondon was suffering from depression and anxiety and had debts of £40,000.

He said: "The girls she employed were already prostitutes.

"She received from every girl for every trick £25 but the girls could charge whatever they liked."