Carina with her mum, Hallina. INSET Carina as a child.Speaking in defence of her daughter, mother of jailed prostitute Carina Matysiak talks of her fears for the safety of her child.

The mother of the prostitute jailed for breaking an order to stay away from the town centre has told the Evening Advertiser about her fears for her daughter.

Halina Matysiak, 45, of Park North, said her 23-year-old daughter Carina has been to hell and back since becoming embroiled in the seedy underworld of prostitution and drug abuse.

Carina was jailed for two months for breaching an order banning her from Swindon's so-called red light district the Manchester Road and Broad Street area.

But Halina says her daughter is still the caring, loving girl she has always been, if only people would see past the prostitute label.

"Carina would never harm anyone," she said. "She is sweet and gentle. When you hear the word 'prostitute' people automatically assume she is a monster, but she isn't.

"These residents that complain about prostitution live in another world. This is 2003 and it's a modern fact of life that it occurs.

"The Government should legalise brothels for everyone's safety."

Carina left St Joseph's School with 10 GCSEs and the promise of a bright future.

She had helped out at Brimble Hill Special School, and after caring for her uncle who has Down's syndrome, she was contemplating a career working with people with learning difficulties.

But within a few months the happy, popular teenager had been sucked into the world of prostitution and drugs, at the impressionable age of 17.

Halina, whose family hails from Poland, said: "Carina went out one night and became attracted to an older man. It turned out that he was part of a bad crowd and it went from there.

"She told me a few months later and I couldn't believe it. She was brought up with strict Polish morals and had received a good education. I wasn't a working mother because I believe it's important to stay home for children when they are growing up.

"But it made me wonder where on earth had I gone wrong? I keep thinking I must have failed her in some way.

"You hear of some mothers who turn their backs on their children when things go wrong, but I will always be there for her.

"She has been through awful things and it tears my heart out."

Judge John McNaught, sitting at Swindon County Court heard an impassioned plea from Carina on Thursday. She said that she was a heroin and crack addict, and despite managing to sort her life out with her mum's support, she had been repeatedly threatened by a pimp.

The judge said that despite having sympathy for her, he had dealt with two breaches of the banning order before and had to keep his sentencing consistent.

Halina said Carina had often been the victim of violence as a result of working as a vice girl.

"I'd love her to give it all up and get a normal job but it's not something that will happen overnight," she said.

"I've locked her up in the house to try and stop her taking drugs and working the streets.

"I've even given her money to buy drugs so she wouldn't need to prostitute herself but she needs much more professional help than that.

"Swindon isn't the cosy, safe town that people like to think it is.

"I fear every single time she leaves the house that I'm going to be called to the police station to identify her body, and it scares me to death."