New order made against Terri-Lee PearceMORE prostitutes have been banned from central Swindon, thanks to evidence compiled by a neighbourhood watch group.

Swindon Council has been granted an injunction banning five women from the area between 6pm and 6am every day for a year.

The decision at Swindon County Court yesterday came after the authority worked with police and residents who set up Street Watch to track the activities of prostitutes and their clients.

Speaking after the hearing, founder of Street Watch, Matt McCue, 51, of Station Road, said: "Street Watch is all about improving the quality of life for residents. Three more prostitutes are now forbidden from the area, which is another step in the right direction."

Hayley Cosgrave, of Essex Walk and Carina Matysiak, of Axbridge Close, were already banned from the area, following an injunction last year. The injunction has now been extended until January 2005, after police and members of Street Watch presented a dossier of evidence recording sightings of the women in the forbidden area.

Flouting the injunction, Matysiak was spotted in the Broad Street area at least 41 times. She was arrested on December 22 for loitering for the purposes of prostitution and is due to appear before Swindon Magistrates on Tuesday. She did not attend the hearing yesterday due to a doctor's appointment. Sentencing for breach of the order was adjourned until January 16.

New orders were made against Terri-Lee Pearce, of Westbury Road, Annette Goodchild, 37, of Cranmore Avenue, and Erica Grady, 19, of Oxford Street.

An injunction was also initially granted against Douglas Thompson, 41, of Cheney Manor Road, for driving Grady to the area.

He arrived late at the hearing to challenge the order.

He said: "I was merely providing a lift and not participating in her actions. I am being portrayed as a pimp and now cannot go to Tesco or to watch Swindon Town football matches."

The injunction was set aside and Thompson has until January 16 to submit a statement in his defence.

Judge Charles Wade, who granted the injunctions, said: "This continues to be another chapter in the saga of street prostitution in central Swindon.

"I have no doubt their acts cause extreme, persistent annoyance and distress to residents."

Borough solicitor Francis Maples presented the case.

He said: " I welcome the extension of two injunctions and three new injunctions, which aim to protect the public from nuisances in public areas."

Cheri Wright, Swindon Council's Anti Social Behaviour coordinator, attended the hearing, along with seven members of Street Watch.

Les Horn, 82, chairman of the Broad Street Area Community Council, said: "It's all thanks to Street Watch that we are in this position. But I am surprised no-one was sentenced. They will be back on the streets tomorrow and want locking up."

vtagg@newswilts.co.uk