A former prostitute stole from a Manchester Road kerb crawler to raise some cash for Christmas.

Streetwise Charlette Wilkes, who insists she wasn't 'working', got into the would-be punter's car before fleecing him for £240.

But after hearing the 24-year-old mum had been out of trouble since her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter was born a judge imposed a community order.

Wilkes was out on the street in the red light district late on the night of Friday, December 19, into the following morning when a motorist flashed his lights her.

She went and spoke to him and agreed a price for sexual services, getting into the vehicle which was driven off.

As they talked she offered more and agreed a fee of £240, taking him to a cash machine to get the money but Wilkes, who was with a man, took the money and fled.

Wilkes, of Thorney Park, Wroughton, pleaded guilty to theft. She had been accused of robbery and kidnap but those charges were dropped when she admitted the other offence.

A probation officer told the court the defendant said she had committed the offence because 'she needed some finances' as Christmas was coming.

"It was not her intention to do some sex working on the night. She was fully aware of what she was doing," the officer said.

She said Wilkes had a previous history of prostitution but had insisted that was in the past and her only concern now was the welfare of her child.

Richard Williams, defending, said: "She has instructed me she has tried, since the birth of her daughter, to change her life."

He said she was on Manchester Road with a friend and is on benefits of £90 a week with child tax credit of £60 a week.

Passing sentence Judge Tim Mousley QC said: "I am satisfied, of course, and it comes through from your basis of plea and what you told the probation officer that you knew exactly what you were doing when you came across the victim that night.

"You are obviously someone who is pretty streetwise and he was not. You took advantage of him.

"You knew exactly what you were capable of doing to get cash from him from the cash machine.

"You described it as opportunistic, I am not convinced. You did it for financial gain. You admitted it.

"It is not so serious that there had to be a prison sentence today. I also bear in mind very much the interests of your young daughter."

He imposed a nine month community order with supervision, 80 hours of unpaid work and a four month curfew from 9pm to 7am.

The judge also told her to pay back the £240 she took as well as a £75 surcharge.

Keith Williams, 38, of Holne Road, Wichelstowe, had also been charged with robbery and kidnap but the case against him was dropped.