Blackburn prostitute breached ASBO
7:32pm Friday 19th February 2010 in News By Andrew Bellard, Court reporter
ASBO: Natasha Coker
A PROSTITUTE made subject to an anti-social behaviour order banning her from Blackburn’s red light district was caught inside the exclusion zone.
Blackburn magistrates heard Natasha Coker was not loitering in the area, she was running through it. And she later told police she was fleeing from a ‘client’ she had ‘ripped off’ the week before.
Coker, 23, of Hollin Bridge Street, pleaded guilty to breach of an ASBO and breach of a curfew order.
She was made subject to a community supervision order for 12 months with a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement.
Roger Pickles, defending, said Coker had always known she would not be able to comply with the curfew order.
“She is a prostitute working the streets at night,” said Mr Pickles.
He said she still works in that ‘trade’ occasionally but has sought assistance and was now in receipt of a methadone prescription and benefits.
“She has cut her heroin intake from £200 a day to an occasional £20,” said Mr Pickles. “She still works as a prostitute but because of the ASBO but she has to do it out of the area and that makes it more difficult and not as lucrative.
“She is having to do what the court wanted her to do and that is change her life,” he added.
time.team says...
12:46am Sat 20 Feb 10
Everyone knows that drug use can only lead to a backward step that this sorrowful case shows us all too plainly once again.
Would you be kind enough as to inform us of the following: What kind of help is given to someone in these circumstances and what percentage undertake that help?
Methadone is an illegal substance that has it’s own street value which can be used to barter towards harder drugs. Is a methadone prescription still considered a suitable method towards recovery, or just a substitute?
Because of the ongoing concerns within the Bank Top area of Blackburn regarding street girls travelling in from other areas are there any forms of police cohesion with those other areas?
Obviously, these girls are getting their drugs from somewhere so what is the present situation regarding the illegal drug trade within this area and what achievements have been made?
I feel sure that this information would bring about a greater understanding concerning what does seem to be a never ending problem!
For those reading this note not knowing: Prostitution is not illegal but street prostitution is!