A COUPLE who ran brothels across the country, including one in Oxford, have been jailed.

Martin Cheetham and Christina Motta admitted to running a brothel in Cowley, as well as Bristol and Milton Keynes between November 2015 and April 2016 – making more than £24,000.

The pair also pleaded guilty to controlling prostitution for gain in relation to one woman in Bristol who they created and maintained online escort adverts for and arranged her travel between brothels.

Cheetham, 42, and Motta, 35, both from Milton Keynes, were sentenced to 12 months and 18 months in prison respectively at Bristol Crown Court yesterday.

Detective Constable Dale Morgan said: “Cheetham and Motta deliberately took advantage of this vulnerable women working in their brothels, making more than £24,000 in four months.

“It is unacceptable they should benefit from their activities and we will seek to confiscate their illegal earnings.

“It took immense courage for the victim to support our inquiry and I hope these sentences will give other victims of controlled prostitution and modern slavery the strength to come forward.”