TWO brothel madams who each made more than £250,000 from sex clubs must pay it back — or go to jail.

Martina Leecy and Susan Bunner were in charge at Bunty's Massage Parlour in Bury Old Road, Prestwich, and The Wonder Lounge in Badger Street, Bury, before police shut them down in 2012.

They were each given suspended sentences for their roles with the clubs, and forensic accountants working for Bury Police investigated how much they had made from the trade.

At a proceeds of crime hearing at Bolton Crown Court last Thursday, Recorder Michael Murray was told of their findings.

He heard that Leecy, aged 50, of Stanycliffe Road, Middleton, made £290,155 from the brothels.

She is able to pay £86,648 and Recorder Murray ordered her to repay that amount in the next three months or go to prison for a year.

Bunner, 47, of Croydon Avenue, Rochdale, made £277,052 from the clubs.

She is able to pay £45,669 and was ordered to repay that amount in the next three months or go to prison for nine months.

In 2012, Leecy was given an 18-month prison sentence suspended for two years after admitting two counts of managing a brothel between February 2007 and May 2012 and one count of concealing criminal property

Bunner was given a 21-month prison sentence suspended for two years after admitting two counts of managing a brothel between March 2009 and May 2012 and one count of concealing criminal property.

During the original investigation, police compiled evidence that people were paying for sex at the venues.

Officers raided the homes of Leecy and Bunner and both brothels, which were closed down.

Police arrested 12 people at The Wonder Lounge and two people at Bunty's. They were aged between 19 and 62. Thirteen were female and one was male.

They were all freed without charge.

Police said that their investigation was initiated after allegations were made people were using the massage parlour venues for other purposes.