A madam who ran a £1.27m brothel business has been ordered to pay back less than four per cent of her criminal earnings.

Yesterday, a judge gave her six-months to pay back a fraction of what her empire was worth - or face a further 18 months behind bars.

Annabel Wise, who is currently serving time for money laundering and running a brothel, earned £1,274,200 by managing two houses in Oxford - including one in Middle Way, Summertown, which was closed following a police raid in November last year.

The 37-year-old, who was handed a 12-month jail sentence in April, appeared back at Oxford Crown Court yesterday, for a hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The court heard that although records showed Wise had benefited to the tune of £1.27m, she had only £46,462 available to pay back to the authorities - just 3.6 per cent of the total.

Some of the money was tied up in cars, which needed to be sold, the court was told.

Peter Coombe, prosecuting, said: "Most of it will be able to be liquidated before that.

"The money that is in bank accounts will be taken immediately."

He added Wise's assets were currently all frozen.

Wise, of Church Road, Milton-under Wychwood, admitted running the Summertown brothel for almost four years.

When she was sentenced in April, the court heard Wise had previously run another brothel in Oxford for two years before leasing the Summertown house in July, 2004.

Mr Coombe said she earned about £50,000 a year from the business, while the rest of the money was kept by the prostitutes working there.

The brothels took in about £600 a day - with a turnover of £1.27m over six years - and Wise was paid £30 for every client who visited.

Tim Boswell, defending, said the final total to be paid back may have to be altered if Wise's cars did not sell for the amount expected.

When police raided the two-bedroom house they found one client, three prostitutes, and a part-time receptionist.

After the raid, officers went to Wise's home and found £4,863 cash and documents relating to the brothel.

Judge Christopher Compston said: "Having regard to the detailed documentation and other papers in this case, I am quite certain you did have a criminal lifestyle you benefited from.

"Indeed, the benefit was a considerable one of £1.27m.

"However, available is a mere £46,000 by comparison. I order you pay that by January 8, 2009 - and if you do not there will be an additional 18 months in prison."

A spokesman from Thames Valley Police's economic crime unit said: "The figure of £1,274,200 is a total figure, which it is assumed under the Proceeds of Crime Act, Ms Wise would have earned over six years from the management of a brothel.

"But with that come the costs of running the operation, which includes rent payments and advertising.

"This has been a relatively short investigation, but a successful one, and will hopefully act as a reminder to people that we will work hard to bring offenders of financial crimes to justice."