THREE women and a man have been sentenced for running a brothel which raked in �170,000 in just six months.

Police raided the property in Salisbury Square, Old Hatfield, after complaints from neighbours that clients were coming and going at all hours of the day and night.

Paperwork uncovered in the police investigation showed the brothel made �170,000 in half a year – with ‘workers’ keeping half the profits.

Sentencing the quartet on Friday, the judge said brothels “pollute” the areas they are set up in.

Katrina Baker, 34, of Thistle Grove, WGC, and Valentina Janutiene, 37, of Cromer Hyde Lane, Lemsford, who set up the brothel, were given six-month prison sentences, suspended for two years.

They were also ordered to complete 100 hours unpaid work and given a prohibited activity order, forbidding them to be involved in the sex industry in any way, for six months.

Anthony Andrew, 46, also of Cromer Hyde Lane, was given a four-month prison sentence suspended for two years, ordered to do 100 hours unpaid work, and made to pay �500 defence costs and �2,800 court costs.

Sharon Kerrigan, 48, from Becketts Close in London, was given a two-year conditional discharge.

Baker, Janutiene and Kerrigan had all admitted keeping a brothel for prostitution.

Andrew was found guilty of the same charge after a trial at St Albans Crown Court.

Judge John Plumstead said people living in areas where brothels are set up are deeply affected by their presence and they “pollute an area”.

He added: “It commercialises and exploits those who are willing to prostitute themselves for the benefit of others.”

After the hearing, Pc Ross Freeman, who led the investigation, said: “This sort of activity has no place in Hatfield or Hertfordshire, and these sentences today show that courts also take a dim view of those who participate in it.

“This was a complex and thorough operation, responding to information and complaints from local residents that people were turning up to the address at all hours of the day and night.

“The investigation dates back to November last year, and has involved hours of enquiries and a painstaking investigation resulting in three of the four defendants pleading guilty straight away due to the weight of evidence against them.”

Sgt Malcolm Dey said: “The brothel was run as an enterprise generating a significant income to the detriment of residents, and the impact of operating a brothel within a residential area is reflected in the sentencing.

“I would encourage anyone who believes this type of establishment is operating to contact us.”