A man and woman behind brothels around Kent have been ordered to pay back more than £50,000.

John Huggett and Phimlaphat Ratanankul were handed suspended sentences in December for running a prostitution ring that had brothels in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells.

The pair were arrested in February 2016 after Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate stormed properties connected to the ring, including Hugget's home in Rowan Lea, Chatham.

Police found £23,630 in cash inside the 46-year-old's home, some of which was hidden in a lunch box.

Appearing before Canterbury Crown Court Ratanankul pleaded guilty to an offence of controlling prostitutes for gain, between April 2014 and March 2016.

Huggett admitted a charge of keeping brothels used for prostitution, between the same dates.

Following their convictions police made an application to the same court for a confiscation order, under The Proceeds of Crime Act.

Huggett was ordered to pay £46,978 to Kent Police on August 1 while Rantanankul, aged 37, of Hazelwood Close, Tunbridge Wells, was instructed to pay £7,439.

The pair also ran brothels in Surrey and London.

Detective inspector Annie Clayton, of the Serious Economic Crime Unit said: "If Ratanankul or Huggett fail to comply with the order, they will have to serve prison sentences of four months and a year, respectively.

"Following this they will still have to pay back the money.

"The Proceeds of Crime Act remains one of our biggest weapons against those who fund a lifestyle from crime.

"It enables police to claw back any ill-gotten gains from offenders, by allowing us to seize cash, cars and even lavish homes which may have been funded by crime.

"Powers derived from the Act can often mean that a criminal continues to pay for his or her crimes long after they have even been released from prison, depending on how much money has been derived unlawfully."

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