PROSTITUTE Gina King was arrested working the streets twice in the space of a week as part of the police bid to clean up Blackburn's red light district.

Blackburn magistrates heard that police had to arrest her again after she failed to appear in court to answer the charges of loitering.

But her only punishment, after being arrested at 8am, was to remain in the court precincts until 4pm. And the magistrates also wiped off £76 of the £176 she already owed to the court in unpaid fines.

Stephen Parker, defending, said King had a drug habit which simply could not be funded out of benefits.

"She has made a decision that she is not going to support her habit by affecting other members of the public by committing offences of dishonesty, such as shoplifting, handling or credit card offences," said Mr Parker.

"When she needs money to fund the addiction she has she will work the streets.

" It is difficult to say she should be given credit for a criminal offence, but she has taken the option where she is the victim rather than other people.

"Presumably, the people who use her services do so out of their own choice," he added.