A Sydney brothel madam has claimed Cassie Sainsbury was forced into sex work to make ends meet but wasn't popular with clients because she was 'a bit tubby'.

It has been revealed Sainsbury, 22, worked as a prostitute at 220 Gentleman's Club in the city's west before she was allegedly caught with 5.8kg of cocaine in Colombia.

Advertising her services under the name 'Claudia', she promoted herself as '19 years old... classy, fun and ready to please.'

But Pamela Feranchi, who employed Sainsbury in the months leading to her arrest, painted a far different picture of her time at the brothel - claiming she was 'depressed'.

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A Sydney brothel madam has claimed Cassie Sainsbury was forced into sex work to make ends meet but wasn't popular with clients because she was 'a bit tubby'

It has been revealed Sainsbury, 22, worked as a prostitute at 220 Gentleman's Club in the city's west before she was allegedly caught with 5.8kg of cocaine in Colombia. Above, the picture accompanying 'Claudia's' online profile

'Sometimes she would cry in the corner eating pizza, chips and gravy. She wasn't the most popular girl, God love her, she was a bit tubby, even though she was a personal trainer,' Ms Feranchi told The Daily Telegraph.

Sainsbury allegedly told Ms Feranchi she had cancer and was forced to become a prostitute because she was drowning in debt.

'She was a complete mess, you could tell she did not want to be there but she had big money problems,' she said.

'She told some of the other girls her mother was no longer alive and me that she had been diagnosed with cancer, she broke my heart.'

Pamela Feranchi (pictured), who employed Sainsbury in the months leading to her arrest, said: 'She wasn't the most popular girl, God love her, she was a bit tubby'

A photo of five girls with their backs to the camera is pictured on 220 Gentleman's Club in Penrith, Western Sydney, where Sainsbury worked as a prostitute

Sainsbury reportedly began working at the Sydney brothel in August last year before disappearing from the roster around five months later. She was later arrested in Colombia

Sainsbury's friends also claimed her former partner, who was told she had the disease, helped her pay her 'medical bills' before they split, the paper reported.

Mr Feranchi's claims come after a former colleague at the brothel alleged Sainsbury tried to financially benefit from her mother's supposed illness and death.

'She said her mum was suffering from MS and was in a private hospital in Sydney, that she didn't have private health insurance but Cassandra had done a deal with the hospital for reduced fees but she'd run up quite a debt,' she told Nine News.

'Then… she had a phone call saying that her mum was dying, and then another call saying her mum had died, passed away from MS… all while she was at the brothel.'

Cassie Sainsbury reportedly worked as a prostitute for five months before she was allegedly caught with 5.8kg of cocaine

'That one there is Cassandra 100 percent. I know that outfit,' the unnamed woman said pointing to the 'Claudia' profile. Pictured, a room inside the Sydney brothel

A woman claiming to be her former colleague revealed Sainsbury worked as a prostitute at the 220 Gentleman's Club (pictured)

The former colleague said she and others donated money towards Sainsbury's mother's funeral, only to find she was still alive when news broke of her arrest.

'We've been really scammed. It's not like she just mentioned it once or twice, Cassandra would go on and on about it,' her former colleague said.

'I think she's manipulative, I think she's a compulsive liar and I think she's conniving.

'Don't be fooled by the tears and the blonde hair and the big boobs. She's not this small town girl from Adelaide.

'Cassandra is not the naive sweet little blonde girl that everybody thinks she is - she is a good liar.'

The bombshell revelations Sainsbury had worked as a prostitute came to light when the former colleague told Channel Nine the pair worked together at the 220 Club.

The brothel advertises 'a world of sophistication and elegance' with the 'best possible adult experience'

Sainsbury's friends also claimed her former partner, who was told she had the disease, helped her pay her 'medical bills' before they split

Under the pseudonym 'Claudia' her online profile included a photo of a woman wearing suggestive black and red lingerie with her hands placed on her waist.

'That one there is Cassandra 100 per cent. I know that outfit,' the unnamed woman claimed.

'I remember when she showed us she bought it. I've seen that photo, that is Cassandra.'

'Different girls that you can have and different type of girls that can make your fantasies come true,' 220 Gentleman's Club said on its website, where it promotes this picture of a woman

Sainsbury claimed she worked as a personal trainer on her Facebook page during the period she worked as a prostitute in Sydney's west

Sainsbury's former colleague claimed the 22-year-old (pictured) had lied to them in the past for her own financial gain

Ms Sainsbury claimed she was a personal trainer on her public Facebook page during the period she worked as a fly-in-fly-out sex worker.

Channel Nine revealed documents that confirmed flights from South Australia to Sydney which matched dates she worked as a prostitute.

Ms Sainsbury's fiancé Scott Broadbridge reportedly bought flights for his partner to travel interstate for the work.

220 Gentleman's Club, where Sainsbury worked, advertises a scantily clad woman with her hands tied behind her back with ribbon

Ms Sainsbury's fiancé Scott Broadbridge reportedly bought flights for his partner to travel interstate to work at the brothel

The former colleague said she and others donated money towards Sainsbury's mother's funeral, only to find she was still alive after the 22-year-old was arrested in Colombia

The brothel advertises 'a world of sophistication and elegance' with the 'best possible adult experience' at rates of $150 per 30 minutes or $250 per hour.

'Different girls that you can have and different type of girls that can make your fantasies come true,' it said.

'Our selection includes mature, talented, beautiful and friendly Sydney cougars that will tempt you and no man will be able to resist.'

Some of Sainsbury's travel expenses to Sydney from her hometown of Adelaide were reportedly paid on a credit card in the name of her fiance, Scott Broadbridge