Caught in a vice trap

12:32pm Tuesday 6th May 2008

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PROSTITUTES are offering sexual acts for as little as £5 and some are selling their bodies at the age of 16.

Others have been repeatedly raped but many are too scared to report the incidents to police in Swindon.

These are just some of the astonishing revelations to emerge from the town's murky sex industry, revealed by a Swindon Advertiser investigation.

One of the vice girls' clients included an 80-year-old man.

The 23-year-old sex worker, who works regularly on Manchester Road and County Road, said she has to go out night after night to fund her heroin addiction - which costs hundreds of pounds a week.

"I don't want to come out and work, but I have to get the money to buy drugs," said the girl, who lives in West Swindon.

"I was doing business in cars, but when I was raped I stopped doing it.

"The man had me in his car, we were in Coate Water, and he got aggressive and raped me.

"I didn't report it as the police could have arrested me for soliciting as they are looking for me.

"I know of five girls who have been raped and we all haven't reported it.

"It did put me off doing it for a few days.

"Then I decided I would only do business in back alleys."

She said she would offer full sex for about £30 and would usually do business with one or two men in an evening.

She also claimed to attract punters within seconds, but that business had been slow lately.

When asked how many girls were on the streets soliciting and how old they were, she replied: "I think there are about 15 girls from Swindon.

"A few come from Bristol now and again but never stay too long.

"I would say there are about three of four out at a time.

"All the girls I know of are independents and don't have pimps.

"I know one girl is 16 and addicted to hard drugs.

"The younger ones are often taking their lives in their own hands - selling themselves for £10, but I would not be surprised if it was £5.

"The industry is changing.

"A girl will proposition a guy now for £5 and be back on the streets in a few minutes ready for another one. I'm looking to get clean myself and get on with my life but it's very hard for me."

A pub landlady in the town centre area backed up the prostitute's claims and said that she had spoken to her customers about the prostitutes in the town.

"They have told me they have been approached by girls who would give them business for £5," she said.

"When they decline these girls get annoyed and get abusive."

She also pointed out that prostitutes would urinate outside her pub and in between cars, which she described as "disgusting behaviour".