London, Jan 26 : Disgraced former International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn ''was fully aware'' that young girls at orgies were being paid to have sex with him, a prostitute has told a court in France.

Strauss-Kahn came face-to-face with the 30-year-old Belgian call girl during a pre-trial hearing into accusations he was part of a global vice network.

Strauss-Kahn, 64, insists he only ever had sex with ''willing young women'' at sleazy swingers parties around the world.

But the hooker named Jade told a judge that the French politician knew the girls were prostitutes, the Daily Mail reports.

According to a judicial source quoted in French newspapers today, Jade told the court: ''He was fully aware we were prostitutes being paid to have sex.''

The same prostitute revealed last year how she was flown to Washington DC, where she had sex with Strauss-Kahn at the city''s four-star W Hotel. (ANI)