FIVE members of an international human trafficking gang who raked in up to £5,000 a day from brothels have been jailed.

They smuggled girls as young as 16 into the UK and forced them to go with up to 10 customers a day.

Prosecutor Brendan Kelly said the operation was "almost like an employment agency letting out temps".

Yaokang Huang, aged 27, of Balmoral Court, Keats Avenue, Woolwich, and Edward Hui, aged 34, of Woolwich Church Street, Woolwich, admitted controlling prostitution for gain on or before December 12 last year.

Huang was jailed for two years and Hui for six.

Mantas Dumasius, aged 22, from Colliers Wood; Karrong Jiang, aged 26, from Paddington; Virginijus Suchodolskis, aged 32, from Colliers Wood; Petras Aleknavicius, aged 24, from Dagenham, and Grazuydas Rudaitis, aged 24, from Kensington, admitted the same charge.

Southwark Crown Court heard the gang was active for up to a year.

One Lithuanian girl was 16 when she was persuaded to work in the UK.

She met two men who took her to meet Hui and Rudaitis before being taken to a flat rented by Suchodolskis's girlfriend.

Mr Kelly said: "It was during this time Virginijus Suchodolskis made it clear she would be working for him and would be working as a prostitute."

When the girl said she wanted to stop working, Dumasius and Suchodolskis threatened to chop her legs off.

She eventually managed to escape.

The men rented flats across London, including Woolwich.

Brothels were advertised using the name European Angels.

Suchodolskis also admitted false imprisonment and Dumasius admitted possessing ecstasy and cocaine with intent to supply and possessing a prohibited firearm and ammunition.

Hui admitted supplying cocaine to another and possessing cocaine.

Jiang admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

Rudiatis admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply.

Dumasius was jailed for 13 years, Jiang for five years and Rudiatis for seven years.

Sentencing of Suchodolskis was adjourned until October 19.

Aleknavicius will be sentenced following a further hearing on October 4 to assess his role in the ring.