THREE people involved in the running of brothels across Greater Manchester - including one in Altrincham - have been ordered to repay some of the money gained.

Ian Barnett, 59, from Salford, ran brothels in Altrincham, Cheetham Hill, Levenshulme and Shudehill between May 2004 and January 2007.

He pleaded guilty to four counts of keeping a brothel used for prostitution, three counts of conspiracy to keep and manage brothels for prostitution and one count of controlling prostitution for gain in 2008 and was jailed for three years and eight months.

His wife, Michelle Barnett, 52, was also sentenced in 2008 to six months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, after being found guilty of laundering £9,000 of the brothel takings.

Carol Duncan, 53, from Ardwick has previously admitted keeping a brothel used for prostitution and conspiracy to keep, manage or act or assist in the management of a brothel used for prostitution.

A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at Manchester Crown Court Crown Square on Wednesday February 2, found that the Barnett's had made more than £5.25m from their crimes to fund a lavish lifestyle.

Ian Barnett was ordered to pay £4,000, and Michelle Barnett was ordered to pay back £250,890 within 12 months or face three months and three years respectively behind bars.

Duncan was found to have benefited from more than £2.5m. She has already paid back £1,769 and was ordered to repay £1,230.90 within 12 months or face three months in jail.

Barnett, who had previously been convicted of a similar offence in 2005 and was on a suspended prison sentence, was charged following a report from a 19 year-old Lithuanian woman who was trafficked into the UK by an Albanian crime gang and forced to work in the brothel at Shudehill.

She had been rescued by police following a tip off on July 31 2005.

Police recovered documents detailing his involvement in the brothels from his home and the Shudehill brothel, including a photograph of the teenager that he had posted online when advertising her as available for sex.

Detective Inspector Michael Fraser, who led the investigation into the Barnett's, said: "Ian Barnett's sole motivation was greed and making money with no concern whatsoever for the plight and welfare of girls who are trafficked into the country.

"The fact that the Barnett's have been ordered to pay back money shows our investigations don't stop once a defendant is behind bars."