A PROSTITUTE who persistently sold her body for sex "to make ends meet" has been sentenced.

Ludmila Horvathova, 34, of Commercial Street, Newport, pleaded guilty to one count of persistently soliciting for the purposes of prostitution, at Cwmbran Magistrates' Court on April 18.

Prosecuting, Ruth Hale told the court during the evening of March 30, Horvathova approached a lorry on Frederick Street in Newport and asked the driver if he was "interested in any business."

She then got into the van and was arrested by police.

She told police she had negotiated a price with the lorry driver of £20 for full sex.

The court heard in 2007 Horvathova had received a conditional discharge of 12 months for soliciting and in 2008 committed the same offence.

Representing, Michael Sage said, "life has not been particularly fair to her."

He said Horvathova, originally from the Czech Republic, was not initially able to obtain a passport when she came here seven years ago and still has not been allocated a national insurance number, both of which prevent her from working.

He said: "She is a bit between the devil and the deep blue sea. She does not enjoy this life. There comes a time where she has to eat and indulge in the basic necessities of life. This is not something she wants to do but is something she has to do to make ends meet.

"She does not have a penny to her name. She has been forced into prostitution for her most basic needs in life."

Magistrate Ann Gray told Horvathova she hoped when she got a passport and a national insurance number, "it will help you lead a more acceptable way of life."

She was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £15 victim surcharge.