A MARRIED businessman lost thousands of pounds after falling in love with a Thai prostitute and setting up two brothels.

But Robert Homan was yesterday spared further heartache by a judge who suspended the prison sentence he imposed.

Homan became involved in the sex trade when he fell for Prakaidao Seesen after paying for her sexual services at a brothel in Darlington three years ago.

The 54-year-old initially set up his own business for the woman as a "Thai massage parlour" in a house in Quaker Lane, in October 2003, and advertised the services in a national newspaper.

He provided the house with a tumble drier, TV and video recorder, and paid for groceries, flowers and towels.

At the same time, he was buying gifts and jewellery for his girlfriend, known as Dao, and her Thai friend, known only as Aire.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Homan also loaned Dao £1,500 in December 2004 and a further £5,000 when she told him her family was going to lose their home in Thailand.

Homan gave up the tenancy of the Quaker Lane house after six weeks when the letting agent found Oriental women there and price lists for various services pinned to the wall.

Ian West, prosecuting, said that shortly afterwards, Homan took up the tenancy of a house in Gurney Street under a false name.

Homan told the landlord - as he had the first - that he had recently divorced and was looking for somewhere to start a new life.

Police and immigration officials raided the Gurney Street address in January last year and found several Thai women and naked men there. Price lists on the walls offered 40 minutes of massage for £25, or an hour for £35, however, Mr West said the charges were "basic" and sexual services were also on offer for extra cost.

Some of the women were deported, but Homan was not arrested until April because he had given the name of John Barker when he rented the house.

He told police he paid all the money because he had become besotted with Dao.

Paul Cleasby, for Homan, said his client's business in the steel trade went through troubled times and he was now working in Scotland to help pay off his debts.

He also said Homan was grateful and took a great deal of comfort from the support he had received from his family.

Homan, of Linden Grove, Hartlepool, admitted one charge of keeping a brothel and asked for two counts of assisting in the management of a brothel to be taken into account.

He was given a three-month prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered to pay £500 towards prosecution costs.

* The owner and present occupants of both houses in Darlington had no involvement with the massage business.