A Black Country woman who helped run a brothel has been forced to sell her house bought with the proceeds.

Susan Richards, aged 53, was ordered to sell her home in Smithy Lane, Pensnett, and pay back the £40,300 profit.

She remained in the public gallery and was emotionless as the order was made by Judge Michael Dudley at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday.

Richards, who helped run Cuddles massage parlour in Hagley Road, Bearwood, for prostitution between October 1998 and September 2005, was given six months to sell the cottage valued at £139,100 and pay back the equity.

Miss Heidi Kubik, defending, said Richards had “real reservations at her ability to sell the property” for the valuation figure.

She said: “It’s her intention to try and sell this property but that’s her only valuable asset.”

Judge Dudley granted a maximum period of six months when he made the confiscation order for the proceeds of crime.

He added failure to pay would incur a penalty of 15 months’ imprisonment.

Richards was sentenced to 250 hours unpaid work in August 2006.

Ringleader and Richards’ former partner Carl Pritchett was jailed for two years.

And her nephew Nathan Langston was sentenced to a 180-hour community service order.

A hearing will take place on August 27 for others in the trio.