A PIMP who lured girls as young as 14 into prostitution had an empire worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, a court heard.

Wayne Baker, 61, of Saron Place, Ebbw Vale, appeared in Newport Crown Court yesterday for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing to determine how much he benefited from his criminal activities and what he has to pay back.

Baker was jailed for 11 years in February after pleading guilty to 22 sexual offences against a number of young women and girls, including controlling prostitution for gain, procuring a girl under 21 to have unlawful sexual intercourse, and making indecent images of children.

He also pleaded guilty to controlling child prostitution, inciting child pornography and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

At his trial, prosecutor Elwen Evans said Baker used the guise of his “quasi-legitimate” businesses, Mayfair Models, Mayfair Escort Agency and Mayfair Adult Promotions to attract girls to the brothel he ran from his own home between 2004 and February last year, charging around £120 an hour.

Baker’s counsel, Peter Murphy said Baker had not coerced the girls into the sexual acts.

Baker was sentenced to 11 years in prison and will be supervised for a further four years after he is released.

He was disqualified from working with children and ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

Baker will also be the subject of a sexual offences prevention order.

At yesterday's hearing, the court heard payments from escorts, registration fees for male escorts, three properties in Ebbw Vale, as well as bank balances, loans and equity meant his illegal work netted him more than £500,000.

Prosecution and defence barristers could not agree on a value of his home in Saron Place, which is needed before a total can be calculated and only then will the repayable amount be set.

Two independent valuers will be appointed to value the house, with their fees being taken from Baker's bank account, and the case was adjourned until July 9 when the final decision will be made.