Detectives are flying to Thailand in an attempt to unravel the profits of the UK's biggest Thai prostitution racket.

Bubpha Savada, 45, of Cypress Avenue, Worthing, and her sister Monporn Hughes, 41, plucked scores of girls from poverty and promised them a life of luxury in the west.

But the girls were then told they had to sell their bodies before they were free to leave.

It is believed the chain of more than a dozen brothels earned more than £1 million every year.

Detectives investigating where the money has gone are now taking their search to Thailand.

Prosecutor Karen Robinson yesterday asked for a confiscation hearing to be adjourned until September 12.

She said: "There are further inquiries to be made in countries outside the UK."

Ringleader Savada appeared in the dock of Southwark Crown Court alongside Hughes and partner Pathirange Ranasinghe, 33.

Last month, the trio were sentenced to a total of ten-and-a-half years for controlling prostitution and living off immoral earnings.

Undercover police posed as clients for nine months to smash the prostitution racket based at and exclusive "finishing school" in Wimbledon, south-west London.

The sisters ran a dozen other brothels in London, Surrey and Kent.

Prostitutes were hidden in a number of "safe houses" including Ranasinghe's East Ham home, an address in Hammersmith and a restaurant in Finsbury Park.

Savada, Hughes and Ranasinghe spoke only to confirm their names at the hearing.