A PIMP who ferried a prostitute to the homes of punters has been jailed.

Preston Crown Court heard Vasile Paun controlled the movements of the Romanian woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, between July 25 and September 17.

The court heard the woman was kept in a house in Infirmary Street, Blackburn.

Paul Brookwell, prosecuting, told the court the woman advertised herself as a prostitute on the internet through posts on a website.

He said: “They were very graphic and were straightforward. She was also known to the police in another area, Coventry.

“Police officers visited the address in Blackburn on September 7, 10 and 17 with concerns for the woman’s welfare.”

The court heard the woman’s phone, and Paun’s phone, were examined by officers. Conversations between Paun, from Romania, and the woman included talking about large sums of money she was making as a prostitute.

One of the texts, read out by Mr Brookwell, said: “Don’t take too many drugs in that room.”

Others included “£600 okay?”, “£500, really? Okay” and “yes daddy”.

Bob Elias, defending, said his client wanted to go back to Romania.

He said: “It seems to be this grubby business was relatively small. He acted as a taxi driver ferrying the woman about for a cut of financial gain.”

Paun, 25, of Accrington Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to controlling a woman for prostitution and was sentenced to nine months in prison.

Judge Nicholas Barker said: “It was apparent she was a prostitute.

“It also appeared from text messages from that you were in some way controlling, including what happened to money that she was generating through her work.”