Last updated at 15:43 22 May 2007

An international porn star who tried to sell a schoolgirl's virginity to a wealthy businessman for £30,000 has escaped jail.

Fleur Brown, who boasted holding the 2003 European "Gang Bang Trophy", spent weeks negotiating the deal she hoped would pay for a new car.

The woman, eager to prostitute the 13-year-old's innocence for as big a pay-off as possible, also wanted to clear a string of debts incurred by a breast enhancement operation in Thailand.

London's Snaresbrook Crown Court heard the woman, a regular at the porn industry's annual answer to the Oscars in Las Vegas, first broached the idea after an American porn film producer offered to make a film about her sordid career.

Alison Hunter, prosecuting, said the girl's involvement was initially limited to playing a young version of Brown in the film.

But when the project appeared to stall, the porn star suggested making money by selling the youngster's virginity.

A national newspaper learnt of her offer and got an undercover reporter, posing as a wealthy businessman's representative interested in having sex with the girl, to contact her.

Brown assured him: "You'd love her ... she's going to break some hearts when she's a bit older. She's very broad-minded."

Referring to the child as her "friend" and little realising she was being secretly filmed, she added: "She's thinking about going ahead and taking the first step anyway and I said to her you know when you're ready to take the next step ... how do you feel about doing some business? Wouldn't it make sense to get paid an awful lot of money for it?"

As the discussions continued, Brown, who also worked as £50-an-hour escort girl, confessed to having frequently supplied the girl with crack cocaine, and said she could easily get some for the child's would-be lover.

Eventually Brown agreed to take the youngster to a luxury hotel for the "transaction".

But instead of the businessman and the five-figure "sale price" she was so eagerly looking forward to, the police turned up instead.

Brown, of Goldhanger Road, Heybridge, Maldon, Essex, pleaded guilty to one count of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence in December, 2004, and one of possessing crack cocaine with intent to supply.

Bespectacled Brown remained impassive as Judge Timothy King told her that normally the serious offences she had committed would "justify" immediate imprisonment.

But in the two-and-a-half years since then there had been a "significant turnaround" in her life.

"First of all there seems to have been a re-think by you on the way you were leading life in the past, not only the drugs but also the type of work in which you were engaged.

"I'm told you have now left behind your work as a porn actress. That bodes well for the future... Moreover, you have managed to put behind you your drug habit. You have secured employment and you are holding that employment down."

But "the effect this must have had on the girl" could not be overlooked.

However, in view of her guilty pleas and the progress she had made, "I am satisfied in all the circumstances that I am justified in suspending the 12-month prison sentence I had in mind for two years".

He added she would also be subject to a 12-month supervision order and be required to register as a sex offender for 10 years.

Outside court, Detective Inspector Colin Burgess, of the Police Child Abuse Investigation Command: "It is a sad case.

"She was apparently involved in a life of hardcore pornography and she thought that this was a reasonable life for someone else to get involved in.

"It is apparent her addiction to crack played a large part in her twisted thought process, and that somebody could be so callous and greedy to prostitute a youngster, and worse sell her virginity, is an appalling example of child abuse."

Miss Hunter told the court that from an early age until her arrest, 32-year-old Brown had worked in the sex industry.

"She was an international porn star using the stage name Betty Swollocks having starred in over 200 movies, with her own website and frequently appearing on Television X."

The barrister said the woman could clearly be heard on the tapes "boasting, amongst other trophies she held, that she won the European Gang Bang trophy in 2003 for having sex with 466 men in four-and-a-half hours".

She said the story started in January 2004 when she attended the AVN awards - the "porn Oscars" - in Las Vegas.

While there she was asked if she was interested in making a "biopic" of her life.

She said she was, and mentioned the possibility of the 13-year-old playing her as a youngster.

But back in Britain the months passed and her debts increased without any further progress.

She then rang the film producer in America and this time suggested making money by selling the youngster's virginity.

Once the undercover journalist had made contact, she not only revealed she was addicted to crack but confessed to supplying the girl with it as well.

The pair were eventually taken to London's Kensington Rooms Hotel.

She was then taped saying: "I desperately need some cash... because I need a fast car. The sooner we do it the better because madam is getting a bit nervous. It's a big thing for a girl isn't it?"

Brown then demanded £30,000 for the sordid sale, adding the "client" could have as long as he wanted with the youngster.

"The price is based on the fact she is losing her virginity to this guy... that's what he is paying for, her virginity, which is why it is such a big deal and... such a big price."

In another taped conversation she asked if the businessman took drugs, and after making it clear the girl was a regular user as well, offered to buy some crack cocaine for him.

She was then given £200 to buy a few "rocks".

Later, as talk returned to the "arrangements", Brown suggested taking part in a "threesome of sorts", if the client was interested.

When the "evening of the act" finally arrived a few days later, Brown and the child were driven to another London hotel - the Kensington Palace - and told to wait for a summons from the businessman.

But Miss Hunter said the only call Brown received was from the police.

Officers found the crack she had bought with the money she was given, in her handbag.