A GANG of robbers planned to target sex workers across Southampton, a court heard.

Police unearthed a list of brothels and other potential victims that were to be targeted by the gang on a website.

Officers then visited known prostitutes to warn them they were at risk.

The operation was revealed as two women they visited were sentenced at the city’s crown court for running a brothel from a Southampton flat.

Mums Kim Byrne and Claire Smith earned nearly £13,000 between 2009 and 2010 by offering themselves for sex from the rented city centre property.

And despite being prosecuted, 53-year-old mum-of-two Byrne has vowed to carry on selling sex.

The court heard the pair set up a website with fake names to advertise their service and when police raided their St Michael’s Street flat they found mobile phones with text messages confirming appointments and prices.

Southampton Crown Court heard they were raided after being warned they could be in danger.

Defending Byrne, Peter Asteris told the court the police were aware of the pair, who had helped them in the past and informed them about an under age Eastern European girl working in the sex trade.

He said: “The police contacted them to warn them they were on a list for robbers targeting sex workers.”

Byrne, of Blakeney Road, Southampton, and Smith, of Lacon Close, Southampton, had rented the £800-a-month property together for safety, after getting into prostitution to pay bills and provide for their children.

Mr Asteris said Byrne was forced into the sex trade by an abusive husband.

The pair told officers they rented the flat to work safely, but that made the operation illegal as they were working as a duo.

Their website was set up by a friend, who was paid in sexual favours, the court heard.

Charges for various services ranged from £15 for 15 minutes to £440 for four hours.

Mr Asteris said: “They are the more acceptable face of prostitution because they worked with police. They didn’t necessarily appreciate they were doing something wrong.

“She was desperate to provide for her children. She was hit with massive debts following the break-up of her marriage.

“She’s continuing because she herself cannot see a way out of the trap.”

Defending Smith, 39, Chris Stoppa said she had made “a big mistake”, which she had done to provide for her children and was now working as a cleaner.

Both admitted charges of assisting in the management of a brothel. Recorder Ian Pringle gave Byrne a 12-month supervision order, while Smith was ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid community work.

He warned the pair despite the precautions they took, prostitution has “inherent dangers”

and lowers self esteem.

He said: “It’s something I know you, Ms Smith, want to put behind you, and you have done. You, Ms Byrne, for reasons I understand, have not yet done so. There must come a time when you do.”