A PIMP who ran a brothel above a takeaway has been jailed and faces deportation.

Sheng Li Liu, 48, was in charge of the sex den at 494a London Road, Westcliff, above Pizza Domain.

It was feared the brothel, protected like a fortress with steel bars, gates and barbed wire, had used women who were victims of human trafficking.

Police and officers from the UK Border Agency raided the property last October.

They arrested Liu, who also acted as the “maid”, taking care of punters and their cash.

Liu, originally from China, admitted managing a brothel when he appeared at Basildon Crown Court.

He was jailed for four months and will be deported back to China once he has served out his sentence.

He will also face a further hearing where, using powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act, police will apply to seize cash he earned as a result of running the vice den.

Adam Rogers, from the border agency, welcomed the verdict. He said: “Just as important as the conviction is the fact the brothel was closed, and has remained closed.

“We know the blight that establishments like this have on local communities and I am pleased this operation has provided a lasting solution to the problem.

“It was only thanks to information provided by the public that we were able to take this positive action.

“I would encourage anybody with information about suspected immigration related crime to contact the UK Border Agency.”

Checks on a Chinese woman, 39, found at the brothel during the raid, revealed she had entered the UK illegally.

The border agency is now working to return the woman to her home in China.

The brothel was the first in Essex to be closed using a Brothel Closure Order.

The orders, which came into effect in April 2010, allowed police and immigration officials to immediately shut it down for three months.

The only person allowed to gain entry was the landlord and that was only by arrangement with police.

The landlord is now renovating the property.