Scot pleads guilty to promoting prostitution

Edinburgh-born Anna Gristina, who has already spent four months behind bars following her arrest in February, is facing deportation from the United States after making her plea yesterday.

Lawyers acting for the 45-year-old, who was dubbed “The Manhattan Madam”, struck a deal that she would be sentenced for time served plus a period of probation when she returns to court on 20 November. Had the case gone to trail and Gristina been found guilty it is thought she could have been jailed for up to seven years.

The mother-of-four had been accused of making around  £9 million from her Manhattan apartment over the last decade.

Gristina, who was released on bail in June, had insisted she was merely operating a dating service. But yesterday she pleaded guilty to a single count of promoting prostitution.

Her conviction stemmed from a tryst in July 2011 that the authorities said she arranged involving two women and an undercover police officer posing as a client. Prosecutors had accused her of having a roster of wealthy, well-placed clients and boasting of law-enforcement connections.