A councillor who sold his girlfriend for sex to help to pay the mortgage was given a 12-month suspended sentence yesterday.

Alan Burkitt, of West Bromwich, Sandwell, advertised his girlfriend on the internet and more than 20 men paid for her services at the couple's home, while he sat in the room next door.

As a result of the conviction, Burkitt has been disqualified as a councillor.

Stuart Clarkson, prosecuting, told Wolverhampton Crown Court the woman had an IQ of 52 and mild learning disabilities.

"She is easily led and was not able to give informed consent to sexual activity in return for money.

"Men would come to the house, pay her and she would surrender the money to the defendant."

Clients paid her £50 for intercourse after seeing her on a website which was "a glorified advert site for escorts", Mr Clarkson said.

Burkitt (48), formerly of Beaconview Road, had been in a relationship with the woman for about eight years and was arrested on March 5 last year after the woman told her family of her ordeal.

Andrew Fisher, defending, said she had consented to the work. "This was all agreed to help them both out of financial difficulties," he said.

"He thought both of them could put themselves forward to earn money on the site, but to nobody's surprise there was little interest in him."

Mr Fisher said the woman made the accusations after she mistakenly believed Burkitt was seeing another woman.

Burkitt, who represents Charlemont with Grove Vale ward, admitted four counts of causing prostitution between November 2005 and February 2006. His sentence was suspended for two years.

Last night Sandwell Borough Council said Burkitt was "automatically disqualified" a councillor, and was looking into when a byelection could be called in his ward.

The former Tory councillor, who quit the Conservatives last year to become an independent member, was not due to contest his seat until May 2008.

Allison Fraser, Sandwell Council's chief executive, said: "Burkitt's conduct will appal decent, right-thinking people. The council finds it equally abhorrent."