Two women have pleaded guilty to running a brothel in Xlendi, Gozo, as well as performing sexual acts for payment themselves.

The women, 25-year-old Spanish Alicia Cortes Gomez and 32-year-old Peruvian Ely Yezmin Pilares Seminario, ran a brothel out of an apartment in Xlendi.

The Peruvian woman also pleaded guilty to assaulting and stealing from Gomez.

The pair had recently arrived in Gozo and their stay was coming to an end; however, when police searched their flat, they found money and a sizeable amount of contraceptive items.

Their lawyer, Matthew Xuereb, said the pair were asking for money to perform sexual acts and they are being considered as vulnerable victims.

Magistrate Simone Grech found both women guilty, however the court decided an effective prison term would not be effective in these circumstances.

She fined each of them €200. Seminario was given a one year and two months jail term, suspended for two years, while Gomez was given a one year jail term, suspended for two years.