A judge has praised the bravery of a group of prostitutes who helped convict and jail a man for his part in a series of brothel robberies across south London.

Judge Shani Barnes made the comments while sentencing Amariah Linton to nine years for conspiracy to rob at Kingston Crown Court yesterday.

Armed with a baseball bat or hammer the 26-year-old Mercedes-driving music producer, from Bromley, stormed massage parlours in Surbiton and New Malden to steal sex workers' earnings and mobile phones.

Kingston Crown Court heard how Linton's co-defendant Daniel Fuller would pose as a client to gain entry to the working flats during an eight-month spree.

Once inside, he would phone his accomplices to give them the all clear. He would then make his excuses to leave, open the front door, and let in his accomplices which on some occasions included Linton.

In November 2005 Linton himself was caught on CCTV ringing the doorbell of a small massage parlour in Surbiton. The court heard how he asked for an appointment for sex, but in this case the receptionist refused to let him in.

Defending Linton, John King said Linton was from a stable and supportive home, but had fallen in with the wrong crowd.

He said: "He was under the influence of Fuller. He was to some extent afraid of him and felt pressurised."

Mr King explained that Linton had occasionally worked with his father in the construction industry, and that he had musical talent, having produced a demo to send to the record label EMI.

He said: "He appears to have had some money problems because the music was not going as well as it should have been."

But Judge Shani Barnes said Linton should have taken responsibility for his situation, rather than preying on vulnerable women.

She said: "There is no doubt that those responsible created an atmosphere of fear among the women over many, many months.

"These women decided to stand up for themselves, whatever society thinks of them. They are entitled to the protection of the law. I found them courageous and brave."

Linton pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob on the first day of that trial, after earlier being found guilty of manslaughter of Norman Delopp in Croydon and conspiracy to rob at another trial.

Linton was sentenced to 13 years in February for the manslaughter and conspiracy to rob and is now appealing the guilty verdict.