City madam loses appeal over three-year jail sentence (From Daily Echo)

City madam loses appeal over three-year jail sentence

9:49am Monday 17th December 2007 in

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THE woman behind one of Southampton's biggest prostitution rings has had her appeal to cut her sentence refused.

Judges at London's Court of Appeal upheld Sharon Moir's three-year jail term despite the fact she argued it was "manifestly excessive".

The 47-year-old was convicted in June this year of running brothels and inciting and controlling prostitution for personal gain. She had been caught out after a police officer went undercover for an interview and Moir told her how to conduct herself as a prostitute.

Mr Justice Cooke said there was "economic coercion" by Moir - who would have between 10 and 12 girls a day working at her brothels in the city - in that she would take their work away if they didn't work extra hours.

See today's Daily Echo for the full story.