A woman who played a part in a nationwide vice ring has escaped jail after a court heard she fell in love with the wrong man.
Ana Calder, 36, transferred almost £17,000 from the proceeds of prostitution into her bank account and lived on some of cash.
The Brazilian, who has a five-year-old son and is pregnant, used the money to fund her “modest” lifestyle in Kirkcaldy with former partner Jose Barbosa who was the “prime mover” in the sex-for-sale empire.
Barbosa was jailed last year for trafficking vice girls between flats in Scotland for prostitution and transferring criminal money.
A tip-off led to undercover police launching Operation Wolfberry in which flats in Kirkcaldy, Dunfermline and Dundee were raided and seven women and one man, mostly Brazilians, were removed.
Calder, who lived in the town’s Mill Street but has since moved to Windsor, was given a two-year community payback order including 160 hours of unpaid work.
She admitted transferring £16,925 from the proceeds of prostitution into her bank account between August 12 2013 and February 20 2014, contrary to the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Her solicitor David Cranston said: “Ms Calder fell in love with the wrong man and that’s why she tolerated what he did.”
He said she had no involvement with the women’s movements and her role was very different to that of Barbosa.
The pair met and began a relationship when Calder returned from Brazil to London to try to save her marriage.
Barbosa struck upon a business idea involving moving to Stirling where a friend let flats to students but it descended into crime when he was approached to help with accommodation for prostititutes, Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court heard.
None of the prostitutes involved in the ring were coerced but they were regarded as victims by police and offered support.
Both Calder and Barbosa were seen depositing money into an account in her name.
Calder converted and transferred only a part of the £150,000 made by Barbosa, who used several different bank accounts, Mr Cranston said.
He said: “She shouldn’t have accepted it but she did.
“They lived fairly modestly. She wasn’t aware they were well off if they were but she used some of the money in her account to pay for day-to-day activities.”
The court heard Ms Calder, who has reunited with her husband, had no previous convictions.
Sheriff James Williamson said: “I’m prepared to accept that in these transactions Mr Barbosa was the prime mover.
“Her role is not insignificant, however.”
He said her guilty plea, co-operation with the authorities, background and lack of offending history had spared her a jail sentence.
He added: “It’s clear this was an offence which was manifest as a consequence of her relationship with Mr Barbosa.”
A confiscation hearing was set for March 23, however the court heard the recoverable amount was only £1.