A MADAM who ran brothels in three towns in Kent has been jailed for 12 months by a crown court judge.

An undercover police investigation caught Hai Huong Truong running brothels in Canterbury, Ashford and Folkestone.

The one in New Street, St Dunstan’s, Canterbury, was shut down after it was exposed by a Kentish Gazette reporter who was offered sex when he answered an advertisement for a massage parlour.

The newspaper's investigation began after complaints about activities at the end of terrace house in 2004.

Truong was said to have made “not less than” £100,000 profit over six years from the massage parlours and a legitimate restaurant she ran.

Truong, 27, who came to the UK from Hong Kong at the age of three, admitted controlling prostitution for gain and trafficking for sexual exploitation after the judge indicated that the maximum sentence he would impose was 12 months.

Judge Jeremy Carey said he was able to take a view of the case which placed it at the lower end of the bracket so far as seriousness was concerned.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that Genie’s Oriental Massage was established in Pavilion Road, Folkestone.

Allister Walker, prosecuting, said an undercover officer went to the massage parlour in April 2004 and was offered a 23-year-old Japanese woman by Truong.

He was also offered various sexual services, but declined and requested a £20 massage.

In August, an officer called the same number and found that the brothel had moved to Cheriton Road, Folkestone.

This time, he was offered a 20-year-old Korean woman and given a menu of sexual services available. Again, he insisted on just a massage.

By the summer of 2005, the business had moved to Millfield in the town. Truong’s silver BMW was seen parked outside. She would also drive prostitutes around.

Further brothels were set up in New Street, Canterbury, and Beaver Road, Ashford. Other names used were Moonlight Oriental Massage and Sunlight Oriental Massage.

Police eventually raided Truong’s home in Sussex Road, New Romney. A search of her car revealed four mobile phones, one of which was the number for Genie’s Oriental Massage. The house was later sold for £60,000.

Mark Florida-James, defending, said the girls who worked in the brothels were “not just prostitutes”, but friends of Truong.

“She herself had worked as a prostitute,” he said. “She admitted that with some degree of shame. She found herself in that position because of financial difficulties.”

Truong came from a respectable family and had integrated into British society. Her family did not know she was running brothels.

“It is a shock for her to go to prison,” said Mr Florida-James. “She is extremely upset about what lies ahead of her. This is not a case of exploitation.”