A WOMAN who ran a brothel in the centre of Trowbridge for more than a decade has been warned she could be jailed.

Marion Meyer-Smith operating the property for the purposes of prostitution from a flat in Norwood Court, off Fore Street in Trowbridge.

The 49-year-old pleaded guilty to keeping a brothel between the start of 2002 and June this year when she appeared at Swindon Crown Court.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, said: "She derived, on her own admissions, significant sums each week: took home for her own payment from the proceeds of the work carried out."

Referring to the 14-and-a-half years the operation was running he said: "There are potentially quite large sums involved."

He told the court they could pursue Meyer-Smith, who now lives in Chepstow, Monmouthshire, for any money she made from the business.

As the offence is one covered under the Proceeds of Crime Act prosecutors could seek to confiscate any benefit from crime.

Robin Shellard, defending, asked for the case to be adjourned so that a pre-sentence report could be prepared on his client.

Judge Tim Mousley QC put the matter off to March 2 and released her on conditional bail until then.

He said: "One of the reasons for the adjournment is so there can be a pre-sentence report prepared on you by the probation service.

"That will deal with all possible sentencing options including an immediate custodial sentence."